The British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) is a junior ice hockey league with 22 clubs in British Columbia. Its inaugural season ran from 2026–27.
The league was formed in 2026 by former franchises of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and the defunct Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL).
History
BCHL departure from CJHL and Hockey Canada
In 2021, the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), the top Junior A league in British Columbia, announced their departure from the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).
In May 2023, the BCHL announced that they would be splitting from Hockey Canada and become an independent league. The decision was made as the league was looking to attract 16- and 17-year-old players who were capable of playing Major Junior but wanted to retain their NCAA eligibility. The BCHL's departure from Hockey Canada sanctioned competition meant that British Columbia was without a sanctioned Hockey Canada Junior A league.
KIJHL and PJHL In 2022, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) and Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), two Junior B leagues, formed an organization called the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) to coordinate a joint player safety department and a top prospects game between the two leagues.
In December 2023, BC Hockey began the process of restructuring Junior A hockey in British Columbia. The three Junior B leagues (PJHL, KIJHL and VIJHL) were designated as "Junior A Tier 2", with plans to evaluate teams seeking to be promoted to "Junior A Tier 1".
On March 18, 2025, the PJHL announced that for the 2025–26 season, the league would split into two, with seven teams in Junior A Tier 1 and eight in Junior A Tier 2. This proposal was rejected by a vote of member clubs, but the league realigned its divisions along the lines of the proposed split.
Formation of league On April 21, 2026, the BC Hockey, along with the KIJHL and PJHL, announced the launch of the British Columbia Hockey Conference as a sanctioned Junior A league. The league will start in 2026–27, and feature 22 teams split into three divisions. The KIJHL will cease to exist following the departure of 14 teams to the BCHC after losing eight teams to the new Western International Junior Hockey League (WIJHL) earlier in 2026. The BCHC plans to apply for membership to the CJHL to bring British Columbia back into the national system of Junior A.
Teams The 2026–27 BCHC season will feature 22 teams in four divisions. Interior DivisionTeamCityArenaFoundedJoinedKamloops StormKamloopsMacArthur Island Arena19762026Merritt CentennialsMerrittNicola Valley Memorial Arena19612026Quesnel River RushQuesnelWest Fraser Centre20092026Revelstoke GrizzliesRevelstokeRevelstoke Forum19932026Williams Lake MustangsWilliams LakeCariboo Memorial Recreation Centre20112026Kootenay DivisionTeamCityArenaFoundedJoinedBeaver Valley NitehawksFruitvaleBeaver Valley Arena19812026Columbia Valley RockiesInvermereEddie Mountain Memorial Arena19782026Fernie GhostridersFernieFernie Memorial Arena19912026Grand Forks Border BruinsGrand ForksJack Goddard Memorial Arena19672026Kimberley DynamitersKimberleyKimberley Civic Centre19722026Nelson LeafsNelsonNelson and District Community Complex19652026Valley DivisionTeamCityArenaFoundedJoinedChilliwack JetsChilliwackSardis Sports Complex20202026Langley TrappersLangleyGeorge Preston Recreation Centre20172026Princeton PossePrincetonPrinceton & District Multipurpose Arena19932026Osoyoos CoyotesOsoyoosOsoyoos Sunbowl Arena20102026Summerland JetsSummerlandSummerland Arena20262026Mainland DivisionTeamCityArenaFoundedJoinedBurnaby SteelersBurnabyBurnaby Winter Club19672026Coastal TsunamiGibsonsGibsons & Area Community Centre20242026Delta Ice HawksDeltaSungod Recreation Centre19972026Port Coquitlam TrailblazersPort CoquitlamPort Coquitlam Community Centre20232026Richmond SockeyesRichmondMinoru Arena19722026Ridge Meadows FlamesMaple RidgePlanet Ice Maple Ridge/Cam Neely Arena19722026
Playoff Structure The top four teams from each division will qualify for the 2027 BCHC Playoffs, with four best-of-seven rounds determining the first-ever BCHC Provincial Junior A Champion.
Teams will compete within their divisions through the opening two rounds of the postseason. Following the division playoffs, the League Semi-Finals will feature:
Mainland Division Champion vs. Valley Division Champion Interior Division Champion vs. Kootenay Division Champion
The winners of those series will advance to the 2027 Mowat Cup Final, where the BCHC champion will be crowned.
References