Thompson-Okanagan teams join new BC junior hockey league

Next hockey season a new league will be born out of two junior leagues, and several teams from the Thompson-Okanagan are going to be on the ice.

The British Columbia Hockey Conference is going to be primarily a Junior A league with 14 teams from the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League and eight teams from the Pacific Junior Hockey League, according to a press release issued today, April 21.

BC Hockey gave the new league its stamp of approval after two years of work behind the scenes.

The league is going to include Kamloops Storm, Merritt Centennials, Osoyoos Coyotes, Revelstoke Grizzlies, Summerland Jets and more.

“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 said in the release.

The Summerland Jets have already announced their new head coach for the first season in this new league, former NHL defenseman Robert Dirk.

“This is a chance to build something the community can truly rally around while helping young players develop as athletes and as people,” Dirk said in the release.

“I’m excited to get to work and to be part of this next chapter for hockey in Summerland.”

Hope said this new league is going to give players better opportunities.

“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,” he said.

The British Columbia Hockey Conference is also going to have several Junior B teams, including eight that will compete in the Pacific Junior Hockey League in the 2026-2027 season.