After one season as a Junior A-sanctioned league under the Hockey Canada umbrella, the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) announced it would become independent next season.
The move will see the league act as a Junior B-level feeder program to higher non-sanctioned leagues such as the BCHL.
“The VIJHL is pleased to announce our move to become an independent league starting next season and to operate outside of Hockey Canada’s umbrella going forward,” said VIJHL President Simon Morgan in a statement.
“After months of hard work behind the scenes by the ownership group of our 11 franchises, this decision to move the VIJHL into a new space in junior hockey will allow players more opportunities for development going forward.”
The VIJHL cited greater development opportunities, the ability to make decisions in the league's best interest and an increased player pool as reasons for the change.
A few months after the BCHL separated from Hockey Canada last summer, the VIJHL, Kootenay International Hockey League (KIJHL) and Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) were moved up and designated as Junior A tier two status leagues.
The plan was for tier-two teams to be looked at by an independent advisory board eventually and those deemed fit would be moved up to tier-one status, allowing for the possibility of seeking membership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
“We would also like to thank our former league partners in the Pacific Junior Hockey League and the Kootenay Interior Junior Hockey League for their years of partnership, and we wish them nothing but the best going forward,” added Morgan.
With this significant news coming from Vancouver Island, the KIJHL and PJHL of the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) announced their commitment to remain sanctioned with Hockey Canada while stating their “disappointment” with the VIJHL.
“The BCHC and its member leagues are fully committed to operating under the Hockey Canada and BC Hockey umbrella,” said KIJHL commissioner Jeff Dubois.
“Over the past year, we have been making the necessary efforts and investments to elevate to the Junior A level, with the ultimate goal of providing our players with a pathway to compete in the Centennial Cup, Canada’s national Junior A championship.”
In their statement, the BCHC mentioned that the KIJHL and PJHL have combined to win the last seven championships contested by all three leagues (the Cyclone Taylor Cup 2016-23 and the 2024 Mowat Cup).
The BCHC added that the two leagues have combined to win 38 of the 42 championships that have taken place since the three-league format was adopted.
“While the KIJHL, PJHL and VIJHL have traditionally been designated at the same level of junior hockey, it is important that players, families and fans have a clear and accurate understanding of the difference in competitive levels between the three leagues,” read the BCHC’s statement.
The Revelstoke Grizzlies won the 2024 Mowat Cup with a 3-2 victory over the PJHL champion Ridge Meadows Flames.
