Storm, Cents to join new Junior A hockey league in B.C.

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The Kamloops Storm, Merritt Centennials, Quesnel River Rush, Revelstoke Grizzlies and Williams Lake Mustangs will play in the Interior Division along with the Osoyoos Coyotes, Princeton Posse and Summerland Jets. 

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The remaining two divisions are laid out as followed: 

Kootenay Division — Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Columbia Valley Rockies, Fernie Ghostriders, Grand Forks Border Bruins, Kimberley Dynamiters and Nelson Leafs. 

Mainland Division — Burnaby Steelers, Chilliwack Jets, Coastal Tsunami, Delta Ice Hawks, Langley Trappers, Port Coquitlam Trailblazers, Richmond Sockeyes and Ridge Meadows Flames. 

The BCHC winner will be awarded the Mowat Cup as provincial Junior A champions. 

“We continue to take measured and thoughtful steps to build our junior hockey pathways in B.C. and to restore a strong and connected ecosystem for our leagues, teams and junior hockey participants,” BC Hockey Chief Executive Officer Cameron Hope, BC Hockey CEO says. “We are now positioned to return to competition for Hockey Canada’s national Junior A championship and, more importantly, to deliver a high-quality player experience for players and families.” 

Additionally, the BCHC says it is finalizing an application to join the Canadian Junior Hockey League, a national association that includes nine provincial and regional Junior A leagues, with the goal of having a B.C. club play for the Centennial Cup, Canada’s national Junior A championship. 

The BCHC says teams interested in joining the new Junior A league were evaluated by an independent third party, Blackfin Sports Group. 

The KIJHL says the Summerland Jets will play in the BCHC on an interim basis while further steps are taken to determine the sanctioned Junior B pathway in the B.C. Interior. The Jets were approved as a new Junior B member by the KIJHL and BC Hockey in February. 

The KIJHL announced its intentions to separate into two tiers for the 2026-27 season: Junior A Tier 1 and Tier 2. However, eight former members of the KIJHL announced their intention to break away from Hockey Canada and form the Western International Junior Hockey League (WIJHL). The WIJHL consists of the Chase Heat, 100 Mile House Wranglers and Sicamous Eagles. 

The BCHC says it will have further announcements regarding its plans for the 2026-27 Junior A season in the coming weeks.