With the BCHL becoming an independent league, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League has applied to BC Hockey to be reclassified as Junior A.
“With the departure of the BCHL to independent hockey, it has left a gap in junior hockey in the province of B.C.,” said KIJHL chairman Brett Holt.
“Our minor hockey partners are in a unique position to offer a solution.”
If BC Hockey approves the application, all 20 KIJHL clubs would transition to the Junior A level under a set of newly-adopted operating standards for the upcoming season.
“It would be seamless and without getting into the details of our proposal, there are steps that teams will move up in as we progress and really build on the work we’ve done as a league,” Holt added.
“We’ve been a member of BC Hockey for 55+ years and this is just a natural evolution to the next stages.”
Holt said there has been a lot of support for the application.
“We’ve got support from all four districts of the KIJHL as well as 19 of the minor hockey associations,” he said.
“It’s really a strong grassroots support that is behind this proposal and we look forward to offering affordable junior hockey to the province.”
He hopes they will hear back from BC Hockey soon.
“We understand this is going to a board vote and we’ve been working under the guidance of BC Hockey all along. We’re hoping that at one of the next board meetings, we get feedback and support from their perspective.”