2024–25 KIJHL season

{{Short description|58th season of the KIJHL}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2024–25 KIJHL season

| color = #FF0000; border-top:#001A7C 5px solid; border-bottom:#001A7C 5px solid

| color_text = #FFFFFF

| league = KIJHL

| sport = Ice hockey

| logo =

| pixels =

| caption =

| duration = September – February

| no_of_games = 44

| no_of_teams = 21

| attendance =

| TV =

| streaming = {{URL|https://www.flohockey.tv/leagues/10826619-kootenay-international-junior-hockey-league-kijhl|flohockey.tv}}

| season =

| season_champs =

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| Cup_MVP =

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| top_scorer =

| top_scorer_link =

| playoffs =

| playoffs_link =

| playoffs_MVP =

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| seasonslist =

| seasonslistnames =

| prevseason_link = 2023–24 KIJHL season

| prevseason_year = 2023–24

| nextseason_link =

| nextseason_year = 2025–26

}}

The 2024–25 KIJHL season is the 58th season of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. The regular season began on September 20, 2024, with 18 of 21 franchises in action on opening night, the Kelowna Chiefs and defending champions the Revelstoke Grizzlies started the season the next night while the Ghostriders started their season the following Friday night. The only rematch of the 2024 Teck Cup Finals occurred on December 7, 2024, in Revelstoke, with the Grizzlies winning 4-3 in a shootout. The season will run until February 22, 2025.{{Cite web |title=KIJHL - Kootenay International Junior Hockey League |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/stats/schedule/all-teams/61/all-months?league=1 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}} The playoffs will begin a week later on February 28, 2025, with 16 teams competing for the Teck Cup.

League changes

The first major off-season change occurred on March 22, 2024, when the KIJHL's board of governors approved the sale of the Summerland Steam to a new ownership group including Tyrel and Robin Lucas, Parnell Pinette, Brad Paddison, Gerald Overton, and Aaron and Nathan Zurak. The new ownership moved the team to Williams Lake where they became the Williams Lake Mustangs,{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-03-22 |title=KIJHL approves move to Williams Lake |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-approves-move-to-williams-lake |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}} a moniker previously used by the RMJHL team that played from 1978 to 1996.{{Cite web |title=Williams Lake Mustangs hockey team [RMJHL] statistics and history at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/stte/williams-lake-mustangs-8982.html |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=www.hockeydb.com}}

On March 31, 2024, the league announced that the Merritt Centennials, formerly of the BCHL, would join the KIJHL as an expansion franchise in the 2024–25 KIJHL season. The franchise will retain the Centennials moniker, colours, arena and branding.{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-03-31 |title=KIJHL approves Merritt Centennials as expansion club |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-approves-merritt-centennials-as-expansion-club |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-CA}}

The second relocation of the 2024 off-season occurred five days later when the North Okanagan Knights were sold to a Quesnel-based ownership group who moved the team north, expanding the league footprint by 100 kilometres into the Cariboo region where they would be rebranded as the Quesnel River Rush.{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-04-05 |title=KIJHL approves move to Quesnel |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-approves-move-to-quesnel |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}}

The Kelowna Chiefs were sold to Kelowna businessman Darren Tymchyshyn.{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-05-02 |title=KIJHL approves Chiefs ownership change |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-approves-chiefs-ownership-change |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}}

On May 5, Rebels' forward Nathan Jackman was killed in a car accident.{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-05-08 |title=KIJHL mourns passing of Nathan Jackman |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-mourns-passing-of-nathan-jackman |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}} Nate's number 23, was retired on September 20th at the Rebels home-opener. Jasper Tait, who started the season with William's Lake before being traded to Grand Forks, and Caden Still of the Nelson Leafs, have changed their numbers to 23 to honor Nate.

On December 2nd the Nelson Leafs fired head coach/general manager Briar McNaney after the team's 12-11-0-0 start to the season that saw six different goaltenders play.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-04 |title=Nelson Leafs fall to Grand Forks, beat Golden |url=https://www.nelsonstar.com/home/nelson-leafs-fall-to-grand-forks-beat-golden-7627059 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Nelson Star |language=en}} Assistant Coach Gianni Mangone would be promoted to the role of head coach for the remainder of the season.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-23 |title=Leafs split weekend games, opt to stick with Mangone |url=https://www.nelsonstar.com/home/leafs-split-weekend-games-opt-to-stick-with-mangone-7726079 |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Nelson Star |language=en}}

Regular season

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{{Col div|small=yes|colwidth=13em}}{{Ubl

| Kootenay Conference

| Eddie Mountain Division

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|1|#ff0000}} Golden Rockets

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|2|#ff0000}} Columbia Valley Rockies

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|3|#ff0000}} Fernie Ghostriders

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|4|#ff0000}} Kimberley Dynamiters

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|5|#ff0000}} Creston Thundercats

| Neil Murdoch Division

| | {{#invoke:overlay|icon|6|#ffff00}} Nelson Leafs

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|7|#ffff00}} Castlegar Rebels

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|8|#ffff00}} Beaver Valley Nitehawks

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|9|#ffff00}} Spokane Braves

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|10|#ffff00}} Grand Forks Border Bruins

| Okanagan/Shuswap Conference

| Bill Ohlhausen Division

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|11|#0000ff}} Osoyoos Coyotes

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|12|#0000ff}} Princeton Posse

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|13|#0000ff}} Merritt Centennials

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|14|#0000ff}} Kelowna Chiefs

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|15|#0000ff}} Sicamous Eagles

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|16|#0000ff}} Revelstoke Grizzlies

| Doug Birks Division

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|17|#00bb00}} Chase Heat

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|18|#00bb00}} Kamloops Storm

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|19|#00bb00}} 100 Mile House Wranglers

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|20|#00bb00}} Williams Lake Mustangs

| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|21|#00bb00}} Quesnel River Rush

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On July 3rd 2024 the KIJHL announced the regular season schedule as well as the new division format in the Okanagan Conference, the Revelstoke Grizzlies and Sicamous Eagles would move from the Doug Birks Division to the Bill Ohlhausen joining the Centennials, Chiefs, Coyotes, and Posse. While the River Rush and Mustangs would take their spots in the Doug Birks along with the Storm, Heat, and Wranglers. The KIJHL season will be 44 games long for each team. The KIJHL erroneously reported that each team would play 10 out-of-conference games but in reality the 10 clubs in the Kootenay will in fact play 11.{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-07-03 |title=KIJHL releases 2024-25 regular season schedule |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-releases-2024-25-regular-season-schedule |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}} Each team's schedule can be broken down as follows:

  • Neil Murdoch Division
  • 1 game against each Doug Birks team (5 total: 5 away)
  • 1 game against each Bill Ohlhausen team (6 total: 6 home)
  • 2 games against all-but-one Eddie Mountain team (9 total: 4 home, 5 away)
  • 6 games against the other Neil Murdoch teams (24 total: 12 home, 12 away)
  • Eddie Mountain Division
  • 1 game against each Doug Birks team (5 total: 5 home)
  • 1 game against each Bill Ohlhausen team (6 total: 6 away)
  • 2 games against all-but-one Neil Murdoch team (9 total: 5 home, 4 away)
  • 6 games against the other Eddie Mountain teams (24 total: 12 home, 12 away)
  • Doug Birks Division
  • 1 game against each Neil Murdoch team (5 total: 5 home)
  • 1 game against each Eddie Mountain team (5 total: 5 away)
  • 2 games against each Bill Ohlhausen team (12 total: 6 home, 6 away)
  • 5 or 6 games against the other Doug Birks division teams (22 total: 11 home, 11 away)
  • Bill Ohlhausen Division
  • 1 game against each Neil Murdoch team (5 total: 5 away)
  • 1 game against each Eddie Mountain team (5 total: 5 home)
  • 2 games against each Doug Birks team (10 total: 5 home, 5 away)
  • 4-5 games against the other Bill Ohlhausen teams (24 total:12 home, 12 away)

The season began on September 20th

= Standings =

class="wikitable"

|+

! style=width:15em |Team

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|W|Wins}}

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|L|Losses}}

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|OTL|Overtime losses}}

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|SOL|Shootout Losses}}

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|Pts|Points}}

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|GF|Goals for}}

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|GA|Goals against}}

! style=width:2.2em |{{abbr|GD|Goals Differential}}

colspan="9" style="background:red" |{{font color|blue|Kootenay Conference-Eddie Mountain Division}}
style="background:black" |{{font color|red| xy-Kimberley Dynamiters}}

|32

|9

|3

|0

|67

|191

|142

|49

style="background:grey" |{{font color|red|x-Fernie Ghostriders}}

|28

|10

|4

|2

|62

|172

|130

| 42

style="background:Navy" |{{font color|#f59745|x-Columbia Valley Rockies}}

|26

|16

|2

|0

|54

|187

|158

|29

style="background:#00006c" |{{font color|red|x-Creston Valley Thundercats}}

|16

|24

|4

|0

|36

|110

|157

| -47

style="background:red" |{{font color|yellow|e-Golden Rockets}}

|11

|22

|7

|4

|33

|119

|170

| -51

colspan="9" style="background:red" |{{font color|blue|Kootenay Conference-Neil Murdoch Division}}
style="background:black" |{{font color|Yellow|xyzp-Grand Forks Border Bruins}}

|33

|6

|4

|1

|71

|224

|117

| 107

style="background:orange" |{{font color|blue|x-Beaver Valley Nitehawks}}

|30

|11

|3

|0

|63

|176

|115

|61

style="background:#015421" |{{font color|White|x-Nelson Leafs}}

|19

|23

|1

|1

|40

|142

|190

| -48

style="background:#906000" |{{font color|Orange|x-Castlegar Rebels}}

|15

|21

|4

|4

|38

|126

|171

| -45

style="background:Red" |{{font color|Navy|e-Spokane Braves}}

|9

|32

|1

|2

|21

|104

|216

| -112

colspan="9" style="background:navy" |{{font color|red|Okanagan/Shuswap Conference-Bill Ohlhausen Division}}
style="background:Maroon" |{{font color|Yellow|xyz-Princeton Posse}}

|33

|7

|3

|1

|70

|192

|99

| 93

style="background:Maroon" |{{font color|#907000|x-Revelstoke Grizzlies}}

|32

|7

|1

|4

|69

|173

|109

|64

style="background:Red" |{{font color|Black|x-Merritt Centennials}}

|26

|13

|3

|2

|57

|146

|122

| 24

style="background:Red" |{{font color|Navy|x-Sicamous Eagles}}

|22

|16

|6

|0

|50

|163

|146

| 17

style="background:Black" |{{font color|Red|e-Kelowna Chiefs}}

|19

|21

|1

|3

|42

|161

|188

| -27

style="background:Maroon" |{{font color|White|e-Osoyoos Coyotes}}

|15

|26

|2

|1

|33

|117

|182

| -65

colspan="9" style="background:navy" |{{font color|red|Okanagan/Shuswap Conference-Doug Birks Division}}
style="background:Navy" |{{font color|Yellow|xy-100 Mile House Wranglers}}

|25

|15

|1

|3

|54

|166

|149

| 17

style="background:Blue" |{{font color|Beige|x-Kamloops Storm}}

|25

|18

|1

|0

|51

|155

|141

| 14

style="background:Maroon" |{{font color|Silver|x-Quesnel River Rush}}

|19

|19

|3

|3

|41

|167

|186

| -19

style="background:Gray" |{{font color|Blue|x-Williams Lake Mustangs}}

|15

|22

|3

|4

|37

|156

|193

| -37

style="background:Black" |{{font color|Red|e-Chase Heat}}

|12

|29

|2

|1

|27

|112

|178

| -66

x-Clinched Playoffs xy-Clinched Division xyz-Clinched Conference xyzp-Clinched best regular season record e-Eliminated from playoff contention

BCHC Prospects game

The BCHC prospects game was the third edition of the game, a matchup between the best young players in the KIJHL and PJHL who formed the BCHC on September 22nd 2022.{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2022-09-22 |title=KIJHL, PJHL announce creation of BCHC |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-pjhl-announce-creation-of-bchc |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}} The game is used to showcase the best talent in the league to higher leagues, including the WHL. The Langley Trappers of the PJHL hosted the 2024 game on November 19th at the George Preston Rec. Centre.{{Cite web |last=nikkistamand |date=2024-08-22 |title=Letter from the KIJHL Commissioner |url=https://www.nelsonleafs.ca/letter-from-the-kijhl-commissioner |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=www.nelsonleafs.ca |language=en-US}} The team staff was announced on October 30th, team KIJHL's head coach was once again Dave Hnatiuk of the Grand Forks Border Bruins, who was the head coach of the team at the two previous games. The assistant coaches were Nick Deschenes of the Kelowna Chiefs, Chad Scharff of the Fernie Ghostriders and Geordie Wudrick of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. Stephen Piccolo of the Beaver Valley Nitehawks was the team's operations manager and Brian Burdikin, of the Border Bruins, was the athletic trainer and equipment manager. Team PJHL was coached by Cullen Revel (Richmond Sockeyes), Andy Liboiron (Surrey Knights), Jarrett Craig (Abbotsford Pilots) and Caymen Froude (Coastal Tsunami), the team's co-Operations Managers were Derek Bedard (Ridge Meadows Flames) and Will Kump (Richmond Sockeyes). Jordana Robinson (Langley Trappers), Steve Sun (Port Moody Panthers) and Kristalee Walchuk (Abbotsford Pilots) formed the PJHL's Athletic Training & Equipment Management staff. Rosters were announced November 6th.{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-10-30 |title=Team Staff named for 2024 BCHC Prospects Game |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/team-staff-named-for-2024-bchc-prospects-game |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}} Many fans of both the KIJHL and PJHL voiced their displeasure with the concept of the game as many felt that either an inter-league all star game or a Kootenay Conference VS Okanagan Conference all star game would be more enjoyable to watch, as opposed to a game of just the best players aged 17 or younger.

= Rosters =

class="wikitable"

|+

! colspan="2" |Team KIJHL

! colspan="2" |Team PJHL

Player

|Team

|Player

|Team

colspan="4" |Goaltenders
Brenner Fyfe

|Kamloops

|Josh Vallee

|Ridge Meadows

Michael Makowsky

|Sicamous

|Armaan Kaila

|Richmond

colspan="4" |Defencemen
Aaron Zulinick

|Kamloops

|Tyler Blatz

|Ridge Meadows

Brett Woodard

|100 Mile House

|Miller Bruckshaw

|Delta

Keiran Thibault

|Kamloops

|Noah Marshall

|Chilliwack

Ben Filippone

|Castlegar

|Lachlan Staniforth

|Chilliwack

Rhett Serfas

|Merritt

|Ryan Howe

|Langley

Levi Dewitt

|Sicamous

|Nathan Gray

|Richmond

colspan="4" |Forwards
Asher Lucas

|Williams Lake

|Lucas Davidson

|North Vancouver

Luca D'Amore

|Kamloops

|Cody Johnston

|Abbotsford

Phoenix Flett

|Grand Forks

|Beaudy Beaudin

|Richmond

Berkley Gross

|Creston Valley

|Jesse Brideau

|Chiliwack

Dylan Ruff

|Merritt

|Lukas Jakubec

|Delta

Jaden Rusznack

|100 Mile House

|Jonah Ussher

|White Rock

Ryker Rougeau

|Grand Forks

|Max Shin

|Richmond

Clayton Gillmore

|Sicamous

|Oliver Nottingham

|Coastal

Noah Paulsen

|Kamloops

|Dalton Toma

|Ridge Meadows

Kaelen Swanson

|Williams Lake

|Deegan Holding

|Chilliwack

Brayden Rotach

|Castlegar

|Avraham Brown

|Langley

Luke Davies

|Kimberley

|Nick Kovich

|Richmond

{{Cite web |last=jdubois |date=2024-11-06 |title=KIJHL roster announced for 2024 BCHC Prospects Game |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-roster-announced-for-2024-bchc-prospects-game |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.kijhl.ca |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=bradydouglas |date=2024-11-06 |title=BCHC Prospects Game Rosters Announced |url=https://www.pjhl.net/bchc-prospects-game-rosters-announced |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.pjhl.net |language=en-US}}{{Ice hockey box|date={{dts|format=dmy|2024|11|19}}|time=18:00|team1=KIJHL Prospects|team2=PJHL Prospects|score=1-4|periods=(0–2,1-0,0-2)|reference=https://www.pjhl.net/stats/game-center/5414|goalie1=Brenner Fyfe (Starter)(L), Michael Makowsky|goalie2=Josh Vallee (Starter)(W), Armaan Kaila|progression=0–1 / 0–2 / 1-2 / 1-3 / 1-4|goals1=35:43 – A. Zulinick (PP)|goals2=6:37 – O.Nottingham (PP) (B. Beaudin, L. Davidson) / 10:51 –N. Kovich (M. Shin) / 46:47 – T. Blatz (PP)(C. Johnston, J. Brideau) / 53:36 – A. Brown|official={{flagicon|CAN}} Jagjit Cheema|official2={{flagicon|CAN}} Malcom Simpson|linesman={{flagicon|CAN}} Connor Bradley|linesman2={{flagicon|CAN}} Isaac La Roy|stadium=George Preston Rec. Centre, Langley|penalties1=18|penalties2=12|shots1=23|shots2=46|bg=#F7F6A8}}Aaron Zulinick was named the KIJHL's player of the game. Whilst Cody Johnston received the honor for team PJHL.

Awards

On November 12th, 2025 the KIJHL announced the 'Wayne March General Manager of the Year award' to join the existing annual awards.{{cite news |last1=Black |first1=Heather |title=Sicamous Eagles co-founder remembered with KIJHL award in his name |url=https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/sports/sicamous-eagles-co-founder-remembered-with-kijhl-award-in-his-name-7645704 |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=Vernon Morning Star |publisher=Black Press Media |date=13 November 2024 |language=en}} The award was named after Sicamous Eagles co-founder and general manager who died on September 18th, 2025.{{cite web |title=Obituary: Wayne March |url=https://www.saobserver.net/obituaries/wayne-march-7555391 |website=Salmon Arm Observer |access-date=19 April 2025 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Official Obituary of William "Wayne" Howard March |url=https://www.bowersfuneralservice.com/obituary/WilliamWayne-March |website=bowersfuneralservice.com |access-date=19 April 2025}} The first recipient of the award was Brad Anstey, General Manager of the Merritt Centennials.{{cite news |last1=Schulze |first1=Aaron |title=Centennials’ Brad Anstey named KIJHL’s first general manager of the year |url=https://cfjctoday.com/2025/04/08/centennials-brad-anstey-named-kijhls-first-general-manager-of-the-year/ |access-date=19 April 2025 |work=CFJC Today Kamloops |publisher=Pattison Media |date=8 April 2025 |language=en}}

Playoffs

The 2025 'Quest for the Teck cup' began on February 28th 2025 with the top four teams in each division making the playoffs, 1st played 4th and 2nd played 3rd in the division semi-finals. The winners met in the division final. The winners of those series met in the conference finals (Eddie Mountain V Neil Murdoch in the Kootenay and Doug Birks V Bill Ohlhausen in the Okanagan/Shuswap). The winners of the conference finals met in the Teck Cup Final. All series were best-of-seven with games 1,2,5,and 7 being hosted by the team with the superior regular-season record. This format, which was also used last year, was the same format as the previous season's for the first time since the 2018 and 2019 playoffs. The Grand Forks Border Bruins cruised to their first ever title with a 16-1 record including a ten game winning streak to start the playoffs.{{16TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds-Byes|RD1=Division Semi-Finals|RD2=Division Finals|RD3=Conference Finals|RD4=2025 KIJHL Teck Cup Championship|team-width=150|score-width=|RD1-team01=Kimberley|RD1-score01=4|RD1-team02=Creston Val.|RD1-score02=2|RD1-team03=Fernie|RD1-score03=0|RD1-team04=Columbia Val.|RD1-score04=4|RD1-team05=Grand Forks|RD1-score05=4|RD1-team06=Castlegar|RD1-score06=0|RD1-team07=Beaver Valley|RD1-score07=4|RD1-team08=Nelson|RD1-score08=0|RD1-team09=100 Mile House|RD1-score09=4|RD1-team10=Williams Lake|RD1-score10=2|RD1-team11=Kamloops|RD1-score11=4|RD1-team12=Quesnel|RD1-score12=0|RD1-team13=Princeton|RD1-score13=4|RD1-team14=Sicamous|RD1-score14=1|RD1-team15=Revelstoke|RD1-score15=4|RD1-team16=Merritt|RD1-score16=1|RD2-team01=Kimberley|RD2-score01=4|RD2-team02=Columbia Val.|RD2-score02=1|RD2-team03=Grand Forks|RD2-score03=4|RD2-team04=Beaver Valley|RD2-score04=0|RD2-team05=100 Mile House|RD2-score05=4|RD2-team06=Kamloops|RD2-score06=2|RD2-team07=Princeton|RD2-score07=2|RD2-team08=Revelstoke|RD2-score08=4|RD3-team01=Kimberley|RD3-score01=1|RD3-team02=Grand Forks|RD3-score02=4|RD3-team03=100 Mile House|RD3-score03=1|RD3-team04=Revelstoke|RD3-score04=4|RD4-team01=Grand Forks|RD4-score01=4|RD4-team02=Revelstoke|RD4-score02=0|RD1-seed01=EM1|RD1-seed02=EM4|RD1-seed03=EM2|RD1-seed04=EM3|RD1-seed05=NM1|RD1-seed06=NM4|RD1-seed07=NM2|RD1-seed08=NM3|RD1-seed09=DB1|RD1-seed10=DB4|RD1-seed11=DB2|RD1-seed12=DB3|RD1-seed13=BO1|RD1-seed14=BO4|RD1-seed15=BO2|RD1-seed16=BO3}}

Mowat Cup

The Mowat Cup is the British Columbia Jr. A hockey championship between the champions of all the leagues in BC, a new format for the competition was required as the previous format of the winners of the KIJHL, PJHL, and VIJHL plus a fourth host team would no longer be feasible due to the VIJHL becoming an independent league as an affiliate for the BCHL in a manner similar to Jr. B.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=VIJHL ANNOUNCES DECISION TO BECOME INDEPENDENT LEAGUE |url=https://www.vijhl.com/vijhl-announces-decision-to-become-independent-league |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.vijhl.com |language=en-US}} An announcement was made on February 27th, the new format will be a best-thee-of-five series between the league champions of the KIJHL and PJHL, the PJHL champion, Ridge Meadows Flames will host games one and two with the KIJHL champ hosting games three, four and five. However due to the ice being removed from the arena in Maple Ridge, the games hosted by the Flames were relocated to the George Preston Rec. Centre in Langley home of the PJHL's Trappers and the BCHL's Rivermen.

= Game 1 =

Grand Forks @ Ridge Meadows {{Ice hockey box|date=April 22nd 2025|time=19:00|team1=Grand Forks Border Bruins|team2=Ridge Meadows Flames|score=3-2|periods=(1-0, 2-2, 3-2)|reference=https://www.pjhl.net/stats/game-center/5470|goalie1=Jasper Tait|goalie2=Matthew Candusso|progression=1–0 / 1–1 / 1-2 / 2-2 / 3-2|goals1=8:38 Burke (PP) (Wassing, McCabe)

36:37 Astill (PP) (Burke, McCabe)

52:38 Clarke (A. Edwards, Rougeau)|goals2=21:34 Power Smith (Blatz)

28:33 Bowsher|official={{flagicon|CAN}} Colby Georgsen|official2={{flagicon|CAN}} Bradon Koop|linesman={{flagicon|CAN}} Taylor Baron|linesman2={{flagicon|CAN}} Owen Middleton|stadium=George Preston Rec. Centre, Langley|penalties1=6|penalties2=8|shots1=38|shots2=21|bg=#F7F6A8}}

= Game 2 =

Grand Forks @ Ridge Meadows{{Ice hockey box|date=April 23rd 2025|time=19:00|team1=Grand Forks Border Bruins|team2=Ridge Meadows Flames|score=|periods=|reference=https://www.pjhl.net/stats/game-center/5471|goalie1=TBD|goalie2=TBD|progression=|goals1=|goals2=|official=TBA|official2=TBA|linesman=TBA|linesman2=TBA|stadium=George Preston Rec. Centre, Langley|penalties1=|penalties2=|shots1=|shots2=|bg=#F7F6A8}}

= Game 3 =

Ridge Meadows @ KIJHL{{Ice hockey box|date=April 26th 2025|time=19:00|team1=Ridge Meadows Flames|team2=Grand Forks Border Bruins|score=|periods=|reference=https://www.kijhl.ca/stats/game-center/18691|goalie1=TBD|goalie2=TBD|progression=|goals1=|goals2=|official=TBA|official2=TBA|linesman=TBA|linesman2=TBA|stadium=Jack Goddard Memorial Arena, [[Grand Forks, British Columbia

|Grand Forks]]|penalties1=|penalties2=|shots1=|shots2=|bg=#F7F6A8}}

= Game 4* =

Ridge Meadows @ KIJHL{{Ice hockey box|date=April 27th 2025|time=19:00|team1=Ridge Meadows Flames|team2=Grand Forks Border Bruins|score=|periods=|reference=https://www.kijhl.ca/stats/game-center/18692|goalie1=TBD|goalie2=TBD|progression=|goals1=|goals2=|official=TBA|official2=TBA|linesman=TBA|linesman2=TBA|stadium=Jack Goddard Memorial Arena, [[Grand Forks, British Columbia

|Grand Forks]]|penalties1=|penalties2=|shots1=|shots2=|bg=#F7F6A8}}

= Game 5* =

Ridge Meadows @ KIJHL{{Ice hockey box|date=April 29th, 2025|time=19:00|team1=Ridge Meadows Flames|team2=Grand Forks Border Bruins|score=|periods=|reference=https://www.kijhl.ca/stats/game-center/18693|goalie1=TBD|goalie2=TBD|progression=|goals1=|goals2=|official=TBA|official2=TBA|linesman=TBA|linesman2=TBA|stadium=Jack Goddard Memorial Arena, [[Grand Forks, British Columbia

|Grand Forks]]|penalties1=|penalties2=|shots1=|shots2=|bg=#F7F6A8}}

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite news |title=KIJHL releases 2024-25 schedule, hosts AGM in Nelson |url=https://thenelsondaily.com/2024/07/kijhl-releases-2024-25-schedule-hosts-agm-in-nelson/ |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=The Nelson Daily |date=3 July 2024}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Austin |title=Quesnel's new KIJHL hockey team is getting ready for first season |url=https://www.wltribune.com/local-sports/quesnels-new-kijhl-hockey-team-is-getting-ready-for-first-season-7369124 |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=Williams Lake Tribune |publisher=Black Press Media |date=1 June 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Crawley |first1=Trevor |title=KIJHL remains committed to Hockey Canada after Vancouver Island league splits |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/sports/kijhl-remains-committed-to-hockey-canada-after-vancouver-island-league-splits-7351785 |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=Surrey Now-Leader |publisher=Black Press Media |date=30 April 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Hastings |first1=Marty |title=Merritt Centennials to withdraw from BCHL; expansion Centennials to join KIJHL |url=https://cfjctoday.com/2024/03/31/merritt-centennials-to-withdraw-from-bchl/ |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=CFJC Today |publisher=Pattison Media |date=31 March 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite news |title=Another Okanagan KIJHL team heading north |url=https://www.pentictonherald.ca/sports/article_9826f818-f2c0-11ee-8d63-7b18ea081b31.html |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=Penticton Herald |date=4 April 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Wayne |title=Williams Lake, Quesnel councils discussing relocation of Kelowna Chiefs |url=https://www.castanet.net/news/Sports/472235/Williams-Lake-Quesnel-councils-discussing-relocation-of-Kelowna-Chiefs |access-date=15 August 2024 |work=castanet.net |date=13 February 2024 |language=en}}
  • {{cite news |last1=Cobb |first1=Ian |title=Details announced for the 2025 Mowat Cup |url=https://www.e-know.ca/regions/east-kootenay/details-announced-for-the-2025-mowat-cup/ |access-date=31 March 2025 |work=East Kootenay News Online Weekly |date=10 March 2025}}

{{refend}}