BCHC Prospects Game/ BC Hockey Junior A Championship

Photo Credit BC Hockey

Given the growth from the now defunct Junior B status the elevation to Junior A Tier 2 is only helping the brand of hockey that the VIJHL, KIJHL and the PJHL are offering.

Last season the host for the BCHC Prospects game was held in Chilliwack with the previous night featuring a “hot stove” banquet that both I did a live stream for with co-host Ian Wilson.

The evening was a fun-filled event with various speakers all of whom offered a vast insight into the growth and development for Junior hockey in BC.

We just received the following press release from BC Hockey and wanted to share with the hockey community.

Enjoy the read:

The British Columbia Hockey Conference announced today the coaches and team staff that will be a part of the second annual BCHC Prospects Game on Tuesday, November 28th at McArthur Park Arena in Kamloops, BC.

The PJHL’s Top Prospects team will be led by longtime Grandview Steelers head coach Aldo Bruno. 

He will be assisted by Richmond Sockeyes head coach Cullen Revel and Surrey Knights head coach Andy Liboiron, while the team’s Operations Manager position is being split between a trio of PJHL general managers — Derek Bedard (Ridge Meadows Flames), Will Kump (Richmond Sockeyes) and Clayton Robinson (Chilliwack Jets). Meanwhile, Abbotsford Pilots trainer Kristalee Walchuk will return for a second year as the PJHL’s Athletic Trainer & Equipment Manager.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to lead the PJHL Top Prospects team and work with Andy, Cullen and the rest of our staff,” says Bruno. “It’s great to be able to support the best young players in the PJHL and see them have this unique chance to gain additional exposure to higher levels of hockey.”

Meanwhile, the KIJHL Top Prospects team staff includes head coach Dave Hnatiuk (Grand Forks Border Bruins) and assistant coaches Briar McNaney (Nelson Leafs) and Jiri Novak (Revelstoke Grizzlies), with Lance Morey (Nelson Leafs) in the role of Operations Manager position and Brian Burdikin (Grand Forks Border Bruins) serving as the Athletic Trainer & Equipment Manager.

Kimberley Dynamiters will host B.C.’s Provincial Junior A Championship on April 18th-21st, 2024.

BC Hockey, along with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) are pleased to announce that the Kimberley Dynamiters (KIJHL) will host the 2024 BC Hockey Junior A Championship, April 18-21, 2024.

This four-team tournament will follow the same format as the Cyclone Taylor Cup (B.C.’s Provincial Junior B Championship) in past years and will see the champions from KIJHL, PJHL and VIJHL, along with the host Kimberley Dynamiters, battle it out in hopes of being crowned BC Hockey Junior A champions.

“The Kimberley Dynamiters would like to thank BC Hockey and the selection committee for choosing us to host the BC Hockey Junior A Championship,” said James Leroux, President of the Kimberley Dynamiters. “We are deeply honoured and excited by this announcement. This is an opportunity not only to showcase our passion for the sport, but also our organization’s commitment to excellence and sportsmanship. We look forward to welcoming athletes, fans and league representatives from across B.C., and we are dedicated to making this event a memorable and successful experience for everyone involved.”

Kimberley is the defending KIJHL Champions and finished as runners-up in the Cyclone Taylor Cup Final in 2023, dropping the gold medal game to the Revelstoke Grizzlies. 

The Dynamiters have competed in four Cyclone Taylor Cup championships (2008 as host, 2015, 2018 and 2023).

The 2024 tournament will be played under the Junior A category, following the re-classification of all teams in the KIJHL, PJHL and VIJHL to Junior A Tier II back in July.

KIJHL Commissioner Jeff Dubois mentioned “The Kimberley Dynamiters are a flagship franchise in the KIJHL and are fully deserving of hosting the 2024 BC Hockey Junior A Championship,”

He continued “During last season’s playoff run that saw Kimberley win the KIJHL Championship, the Dynamiters averaged well over 1,000 fans per game and twice eclipsed the 1,650-attendance mark. There is no doubt this event will be a tremendous showcase of Junior A hockey in B.C. that is well supported and attended by the host community.”

The tournament will be held at the Civic Centre in Kimberley, B.C., the Dynamiters’ home arena.

Schedule and ticket packages information will be announced in the future. For more information, please visit: https://www.kijhl.ca.