Hockey Canada expands WCDM pilot project

Hockey Canada has announced that after a successful first season, the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM) pilot project will expand its scope for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on roster composition. Announced in July 2024, the WCDM pilot project is a joint initiative between Hockey Canada’s four Western Members, their respective Junior A hockey […]

A Coaches Work Is Never Done

A coaches work is never done. The 2024-2025 hockey season may have just ended, but for the Columbia Valley Rockies coaching team, planning for the 2025-2026 season started months ago. The Rockies held their hockey camp in The Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena East weekend, with over 60 players arriving to show their skills and test […]

Rockies’ Donahue commits to ACHA Grand Valley State University

Paddy Donahue of the Columbia Valley Rockies has committed to attend Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. to play for the Lakers in the American Collegiate Hockey Association this fall. Donahue registered eight points in 37 regular season games this season and had 21 points in 100 career Kootenay International Junior Hockey League regular […]

Sacrificing everything for each other

“It’s about sacrificing everything for each other.” Columbia Valley Rockies team captain Kobe Mason’s pre-playoff words rang true this past week. Hard work, a strong team mindset and a whole lotta heart paid off in spades for the Rockies this as they achieved a clean sweep in the first round of Kootenay International Junior Hockey […]

Velker, White & Stojan selected as KIJHL 3 Stars

Carter Velker (Columbia Valley Rockies), Nathan White (Revelstoke Grizzlies) and Connor Stojan (Beaver Valley Nitehawks) have been selected as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League 3 Stars of the Week for the period ending March 2/25. Velker – Top Forward – The Calgary native delivered in a big way to help the Rockies take a […]

The Rockies are Playoff Bound

The end of one season signals the start of the next. The final games of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) regular season were played last weekend, and for the Columbia Valley Rockies, a Friday win over the Fernie Ghostriders was an auspicious bridge to the first round of playoff games. A crowd of […]

2024-25 KIJHL Teck Cup preview

The Quest for the Teck Cup, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoff championship, begins tomorrow. The Revelstoke Grizzlies are the defending Teck Cup champions. Below is a preview of each series.   Kootenay Conference Neil Murdoch Division   Grand Forks Border Bruins (1)   Castlegar Rebels (4) Season Series: Border Bruins won 6-0. Series […]

Eddie Mountain Division Award Winners

Each year, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League presents awards for on-ice excellence: Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender, Rookie of the Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player, Coach of the Year and the newly added General Manager of the Year. Winners are named from the four divisions prior to the start of KIJHL […]

The KIJHL Notebook: Kootenay Conference – Ghostriders details and habits

The Princeton Posse lead the KIJHL with scoring the first goal in a game, having done it 30 times in 43 games. Next are the Revelstoke Grizzlies with 28 first goals in 42 games. The Merritt Centennials and Grand Forks Border Bruins are next with 26. The Fernie Ghostriders have 25. Here are the top-five […]

Astill, Wurtz & Kahl selected KIJHL January 3 Stars

Levi Astill (Grand Forks Border Bruins), Wyatt Wurtz (Columbia Valley Rockies) and Eric Kahl (Grand Forks Border Bruins) have been selected as the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League 3 Stars of the Month for January. Astill – Top Forward – The Edmonton native scored 14 goals and added 16 assists for 30 points in 11 […]