Excitement Ahead For Junior Hockey In BC

Hockey for the most part has wrapped up with some leagues still in the final stages of getting set to begin the playoffs which extends the season.

Given the recent turmoil with the BCHL pulling out of Hockey Canada this opened the door for the PJHL to submit an application to Hockey Canada allowing the league to take up the void for Junior A in the province.

The move wasn’t an easy one as there were hurdles the league had to not only cross but fall under which encompasses various areas.

Some included (as we are told) a full time coach, trainer, team dressing room and seating capacity to name only a few which was conducted by Blackfin Sports Group which at one point had a connection with the Canucks.

They oversee the analysis of each franchise who applied to be evaluated, reviewing areas that include organizational structure, business operations, player development programs, player experience, and overall operational efficiency. 

Other factors considered in the evaluations include the home venues and facilities available to teams. 

Some of the parameters for these evaluations are set out in the BC Hockey Junior A Operating Standards, which has been developed by the Junior Hockey Task Group.

Cameron Hope, BC Hockey’s Chief Executive Officer mentioned “BC Hockey’s Junior Hockey Task Group, and our member leagues, felt that Blackfin Sports Group would be the right fit to evaluate these franchises as they grow and strengthen.” 

He continued “The Blackfin team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, uniquely positioned to fairly evaluate teams across the province. The results should be an important part of the roadmap for the evolution of Junior A hockey in British Columbia.”

The process took a while and the final announcement for the PJHL was released with seven teams advancing to Junior A Tier One and the other eight playing in Tier two starting this fall.

The first team to make it official was the Richmond Sockeyes who have been playing out of Richmond’s Minoru Arena dating back to 1972 when the original owner Bruce Allison came up with the name.

Since then they have had various coaches but it all started in the BCJHL in 1979 with Bill Wilms for two seasons and in his third season he had Dick Thompson help out and fast forward to 1986-87 when Orland Kurtenback was in charge for the 1986-87 season.

The move to Tier One will begin this coming fall with seven teams facing off for the inaugural season namely the Chilliwack Jets, Ridge Meadows Flames, Grandview Steelers, Delta Ice Hawks, Langley Trappers and the Coastal Tsunami.

The schedule is as you can imagine still in the working stages but won’t be released until the conclusion of the Junior Championship this year.

This season for the second consecutive season the Ridge Meadows Flames won the PJHL Championship as they played the Delta Ice Hawks winning in game six scoring 22 goals to Delta’s 18 goals.

The Flames are awaiting to play the winner of the KIJHL who are still in the playoff round knowing that the first two games of the best of five will be played in Ridge with the last three played in the Interior at the home rink of their league champion.

Since the PJHL made the announcement that they were taking giant steps other teams are looking from the outside to see how this transformation will work out for the league and of course many are skeptics as you can imagine.

Regardless, this move forward has all the implications of attracting talented players who are wanting to take the next step in their career.

We are wishing the PJHL all the best as they move forward.