2021–22 KIJHL season

The 2021–22 KIJHL season was the 55th in league history and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. The season began on October 1, 2021, and ran until February 19, 2024.[1] The playoffs began February 22 and ran until March 31 when the Revelstoke Grizzlies won 6–4 at home over the Nelson Leafs to win the Teck Cup four games to one, hosting the trophy for the fourth time in franchise history.[2]

2021–22 KIJHL season
LeagueKIJHL
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober – February
Number of games42
Number of teams19
Streaming partner(s)flohockey.tv
League championsRevelstoke Grizzlies
  Runners-upNelson Leafs
Seasons

COVID-19 restrictions

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Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the Spokane Braves were forced to drop out of the season on August 18 due to obstacles crossing the Canada-US border.[3] In addition no inter-conference games were to be played until the league championship. All on-ice officials, players, and bench staff had to be fully vaccinated prior to the start of the season.[4] Mask mandates, capacity restrictions, and proof of vaccination to enter followed health mandates from the province as the season was played.

Regular season

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Format changes

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In the off season the KIJHL changed the rules for how ties would be broken after regulation time, previously two five-minute four-on-four overtime periods were used to determine the winner, if neither team could score the game would end in a tie. This season the league introduced NHL-style tiebreaking, a single five-minute three-on-three overtime would be used instead, if the tie was still not broken a three-round shootout would be used, with extra rounds added as needbe.[5]

League map
 
 
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Legend

Standings

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The final standings were as follows.[6]

Eddie Mountain division
Team W L OTL Pts GF GA
Kimberley Dynamiters 31 9 2 64 157 84
Columbia Valley Rockies 30 9 3 63 158 123
Fernie Ghostriders 22 15 5 49 123 123
Creston Valley Thunder Cats 19 22 1 39 131 133
Golden Rockets 13 26 3 29 109 169
Neil Murdoch division
Team W L OTL Pts GF GA
Nelson Leafs 31 10 1 63 171 93
Beaver Valley Nitehawks 22 17 3 47 155 144
Castlegar Rebels 16 24 2 34 115 151
Grand Forks Border Bruins 5 34 3 13 79 178
Bill Ohlhausen division
Team W L OTL Pts GF GA
Osoyoos Coyotes 33 3 6 72 210 116
Kelowna Chiefs 26 13 3 55 158 135
Summerland Steam 22 16 4 48 148 163
Princeton Posse 15 24 3 33 124 165
North Okanagan Knights 10 25 7 27 106 166
Doug Birks division
Team W L OTL Pts GF GA
Revelstoke Grizzlies 31 9 2 64 145 84
Kamloops Storm 28 10 4 60 141 91
Chase Heat 20 15 7 47 152 144
Sicamous Eagles 14 25 3 31 111 140
100 Mile House Wranglers 11 29 2 24 85 176

Awards

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The season's various award winners were as follows.[7]

Award League Winner Eddie Mountain Winner Neil Murdoch Winner Doug Birks Winner Bill Ohlhausen Winner
MVP Jack Henderson, Osoyoos Trystan Self, Kimberley Griffen Ryden, Castlegar Jacob Biensch, Chase Jack Henderson, Osoyoos
Top Scorer Jack Henderson, Osoyoos Kayde Kinaschuk, Columbia Valley Hayden Stocks, Beaver Valley Jacob Biensch, Chase Jack Henderson, Osoyoos
Top Defenceman Brandon Gallo, Revelstoke Cameron Reid, Kimberley Bryce Sookro, Nelson Brandon Gallo, Revelstoke Ty Marchant, Kelowna
Top Goaltender Trystan Self, Kimberley Trystan Self, Kimberley Dylan Marshall, Nelson Colton Phillips-Watts, Kamloops Frederick LaRochelle, Kelowna
Rookie of the Year Kayde Kinaschuk, Columbia Valley Kayde Kinaschuk, Columbia Valley Bryce Sookro, Nelson Zakery Anderson, Kamloops Tristan Weill, Summerland
Most Sportsmanlike Matthew Johnston, North Okanagan Corbin Cockerill, Creston Valley Tyson Lautard, Nelson Reid Stumpf, 100 Mile House Matthew Johnston, North Okanagan
Coach of the Year Derek Stuart, Kimberley Derek Stuart, Kimberley Mario Dibella, Nelson Geoff Grimwood, Kamloops Carter Rigby, Osoyoos

Playoffs

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The 2022 playoffs began on February 22. The original playoff format would see the top four teams in each division, except the Neil Murdoch which would have three, make the playoffs and the next best team in the Kootenay Conference occupying the final spot in the Neil Murdoch Division playoffs, however after the Grand Forks Border Bruins were eliminated from making the playoffs it became increasingly likely that the Golden Rockets, representing the longest and most costly opponent for the Neil Murdoch Division champions, would move into the Neil Murdoch Division, the KIJHL opted to move the Creston Valley Thunder Cats instead.[8]

Division Semi Finals Division Finals Conference Finals 2023 Teck Cup Championship
        
Kimberley 4
Golden 0
Kimberley 4
Columbia Valley 2
Columbia Valley 4
Fernie 2
Kimberley 2
Nelson 4
Nelson 4
Castlegar 3
Nelson 4
Beaver Valley 2
Beaver Valley 4
Creston Valley 3
Nelson 1
Revelstoke 4
Revelstoke 4
Sicamous 0
Revelstoke 4
Kamloops 2
Kamloops 4
Chase 3
Revelstoke 4
Osoyoos 0
Osoyoos 4
Princeton 1
Osoyoos 4
Summerland 2
Kelowna 1
Summerland 4

References

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  1. ^ esequeira (2021-07-30). "KIJHL releases 2021-22 schedule". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  2. ^ "KIJHL - Kootenay International Junior Hockey League". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  3. ^ jdubois (2021-08-18). "Spokane Braves withdraw from 2021/22 KIJHL season". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  4. ^ jdubois (2021-08-16). "KIJHL announces COVID-19 Vaccination Policy". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  5. ^ kijhl (2020-06-17). "KIJHL holds 2020 AGM, provides update on Return to Play and 2020/21 season". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  6. ^ "KIJHL - Kootenay International Junior Hockey League". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  7. ^ "2021/22 KIJHL Individual Awards". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  8. ^ jdubois (2022-02-09). "Kootenay Conference Playoff Change Announced". www.kijhl.ca. Retrieved 2024-08-18.