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By Aaron Schulze

KIJHL Realignment

KIJHL to separate into two tiers in 2026; Storm and Cents to play Tier 1

Mar 18, 2025 | 12:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Storm and Merritt Centennials will be taking a step up in competition two seasons from now.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) announced 11 of its teams, including the Storm and Centennials, will transition to Junior A Tier 1 hockey ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The KIJHL was given Junior A Tier 2 status following the British Columbia Hockey League’s decision to become independent in 2023.

“The landscape of junior hockey in British Columbia has changed significantly over the past two years, and this has presented exciting opportunities for the KIJHL and our members,” KIJHL Commissioner Jeff Dubois says. “Ultimately, it became clear that the best avenue to serve our teams and athletes would be a transition to separate Tier 1 and Tier 2 leagues and we’re very excited to make this vision a reality over the next 18 months.”

Along with the Storm and Centennials, the KIJHL’s Tier 1 league will feature the:

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• Beaver Valley Nitehawks
• Columbia Valley Rockies
• Fernie Ghostriders
• Grand Forks Border Bruins
• Kimberley Dynamiters
• Nelson Leafs
• Osoyoos Coyotes
• Princeton Posse
• Revelstoke Grizzlies

Remaining in Junior A Tier 2 will be the Chase Heat, Golden Rockets and Spokane Braves.

Meantime, seven KIJHL teams can undergo further assessments to determine their status for 2026-27, including the 100 Mile House Wranglers, Quesnel River Rush, Sicamous Eagles, Williams Lake Mustangs, Castlegar Rebels, Creston Valley Thunder Cats and Kelowna Chiefs.

The KIJHL will play under its current structure in 2025-26.

In the Lower Mainland, the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) will undergo a similar realignment in 2025-26. Seven of its teams will compete in Junior A Tier 1 while the remaining eight will remain in Tier 2.

“Our league faces some unique geographic and logistical challenges, and so the decision to play one more season under our current structure was made to ensure the long-term sustainability of all of our members,” Dubois states in a news release issued by the PJHL Tuesday (March 18). “We will be taking further steps, over the next 12 months, to determine which teams will be at each level. This includes the possibility of adding Tier 2 members in new communities. A final announcement on alignment will come in early 2026.”

In a frequently asked questions post by BC Hockey, the future of the Mowat Cup and Cyclone Taylor Cup, awarded to B.C.’s Junior A Tier 2 and Junior B provincial champions respectively, will be unveiled at a later date. Additionally, BC Hockey says it’s working with Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League to ensure a B.C. Junior A Tier 1 team can play for the Centennial Cup, Canada’s national Junior A hockey championship.

As of now, BC Hockey says there are no plans for Tier 1 teams to play Tier 2 teams.

The KIJHL says it will provide a further update regarding planning for the 2026-27 season following the league’s 2025 Annual General Meeting, scheduled for June 20-22 in Kamloops, B.C.