Columbia Valley Rockies History
Proud History. Bright Future.
The Columbia Valley Rockies have been part of the heart of Invermere, British Columbia, for decades. With a proud history of championship hockey, strong community roots and a tradition of developing young talent, the Rockies have built a legacy that extends well beyond the ice.
Today, the Rockies compete in the Kootenay Conference of the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC), playing their home games at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.
A Legacy of Champions
The Rockies established themselves as a powerhouse in junior hockey during the late 1980s, capturing three consecutive Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) championships in 1987–88, 1988–89 and 1989–90.
In 1989, the Rockies added to their success by claiming the Cyclone Taylor Cup, earning the title of British Columbia provincial champions.
That championship team was led by head coach Tom Renney, who went on to an accomplished coaching career with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and Team Canada. Tom is still involved with the Rockies today.
The Man Behind the Rockies
The Rockies owe much of their history to founder Eddie Mountain, whose dedication to junior hockey helped establish the team as a cornerstone of the Columbia Valley community. His contributions are honoured through the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena, where generations of players have proudly worn the Rockies jersey.
One of the more memorable stories from the team’s early years involves Eddie Mountain, then coach Marshall Davidson and Marshall’s brother, NHL legend John Davidson.
When the Rockies needed new jerseys, Eddie asked Marshall to approach his brother about sponsoring the team. John, who was playing for the New York Rangers at the time, agreed to purchase the jerseys on one condition: they had to feature New York colours.
Eddie kept his word, although perhaps not quite as John had imagined. The new Rockies jerseys arrived sporting the colours of the New York Islanders instead of the Rangers.
It’s a story that has become part of Rockies history and a reminder of the personalities and community spirit that helped shape the organization.
A New Chapter in Junior A Hockey
In April 2026, the British Columbia Hockey Conference was established as the Hockey Canada and BC Hockey sanctioned Junior A league in British Columbia.
Bringing together 22 teams from across the province, the BCHC provides young athletes with the opportunity to compete in sanctioned Junior A hockey close to home, with a pathway to the Centennial Cup, Canada’s national Junior A championship.
The conference is also pursuing membership in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), marking another important step in the continued development of Junior A hockey in British Columbia.
For the Columbia Valley Rockies, this new chapter builds on decades of tradition while creating new opportunities for the next generation of players.
League Information and Historical Records
For current Rockies news, schedules, scores, statistics and rosters, visit the BCHC website.
Historical records and information from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League remain available through the KIJHL website.
