File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)
TRU WolfPack

TRU WolfPack hockey returns with Logan Lake Miners deal

Jun 18, 2026 | 1:59 PM

LOGAN LAKE, B.C. — WolfPack hockey is back.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has announced an affiliation with the Logan Lake Miners, with men’s and women’s teams set to compete in the 2026-27 BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) season.

WolfPack Director of Athletics and Recreation Curtis Atkinson says the team will remain based in Logan Lake as a “self-funded competitive club program.”

“We are pleased to welcome hockey to TRU as a competitive club program,” said Atkinson in a news release issued Thursday (June 18). “This affiliation reflects our commitment to delivering opportunities for student-athletes and promoting the link between competitive sport and post-secondary education.”

The Miners have iced a men’s team in the BCIHL since 2022, comprised mainly of former junior hockey players who want to continue in a competitive league while pursuing their education.

After a winless maiden season, the team has steadily improved. The Miners finished the 2025-26 regular season with a record of 8-10-0-2, making it to the playoff semi-final before falling to the University of Victoria.

This will be the inaugural season for a women’s division in the BCIHL. The league expects to release details shortly.

Men’s hockey coach Grant Friesen will coach both TRU teams.

“With the growth and increasing profile of women’s hockey, we are thrilled with the addition of a women’s program,” added Atkinson. “The Logan Lake Miners have been a strong and competitive member of the BCIHL, with outstanding support in Logan Lake, and we look forward to their continued success.”

The previous iteration of the WolfPack men’s hockey team played in the BCIHL from 2008 to 2014 before folding for financial reasons.

The school notes the team will need donations and corporate sponsorship to remain financially viable.

“This affiliation combines the strength of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack brand with the incredible support and hockey culture that exists in Logan Lake,” said Friesen in the release. “The team will continue to call Logan Lake home, while gaining new opportunities for recruitment, student-athlete development, and long-term program sustainability. We are excited about the future and what this means for our players, our university, and the community.”

Head Coach Grant Friesen
Head Coach Grant Friesen (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

While the Miners formerly included a few players attending Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) in Merritt, no NVIT students remained on the roster after this spring’s graduation. The arrangement with NVIT will not continue forward.