Major Shift in B.C. Junior Hockey Landscape: Vancouver Island League Goes Independent

The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) made a bold move this week by announcing its decision to go independent from BC Hockey and Hockey Canada starting in the 2024-25 season. This major shift in the B.C. junior hockey landscape was driven by the league’s desire to work with the B.C. Hockey League once again, after the BCHL severed ties with the regulating bodies last season.

Executive director Shawn Vincent explained that the decision was player-driven, with many players and families feeling frustrated by limited options for advancing to higher levels of hockey. By going independent, the VIJHL aims to provide a pathway for its players to compete at a higher level without having to leave the island.

The VIJHL was previously part of the B.C. Hockey Conference alongside the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and the Pacific Junior Hockey League, but now plans to forge its own path. Meanwhile, the KIJHL and PJHL have reaffirmed their commitment to operating under the Hockey Canada and BC Hockey umbrella.

The KIJHL recently received a classification bump from junior B to junior A, tier two, and is working towards providing players with a pathway to compete in the Centennial Cup, Canada’s national junior A championship. The league has hired Blackfin Sports Group to develop a process for designating teams as junior A, tier one, with details expected in early 2025.

In addition to these changes, the KIJHL is welcoming three new franchises for the 2024-25 season, including the North Okanagan Knights, Summerland Steam, and Merritt Centennials. With these developments, the B.C. junior hockey landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, setting the stage for an exciting future for young players in the region.