The British Columbia Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) is the highest level of provincial youth ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. The league is governed by BC Hockey and was inaugurated in 2004 as the British Columbia Hockey Major Midget League (BCMML).
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| No. of teams | 14 |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Okanagan Rockets |
| Related competitions | Telus Cup |
| Official website | www |
The league currently consists of 9 integrated teams (U15, U17, U18) and 5 U18 women's teams. Players range from 14 to 17 years old.[1] BCEHL is part of BC Hockeys' "High Performance" program to develop the best U18 players around the province. The U18 league champion goes on to compete with the top Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) U18 team to represent the Pacific region at the annual Telus Cup, Canada's national U18 championship. The Okanagan Rockets are the current 2023 champions,[2] and the 2022 Vancouver North East Chiefs[3] were the last team to represent the BCEHL at the Telus Cup.
History
editOriginally established in 2004–05 as the British Columbia Major Midget League[4] for players under 18 years of age, a female division was initialized in 2007–08 and played under the umbrella of the Female Midget AAA League. In 2018, a U16 AAA league was created (now the U17 AAA league), followed by a U15 AAA league in 2019. These four divisions (Female U18 AAA, U18 AAA, U17 AAA and U15 AAA) now comprise the BCEHL.
On September 16, 2021, the league was announced as being renamed the British Columbia Elite Hockey League.[5]
Current teams
editIntegrated
edit- Cariboo Cougars
- Fraser Valley Thunderbirds
- Greater Vancouver Canadians
- Okanagan Rockets
- Thompson Blazers
- Vancouver Island Royals
- Valley West Giants
- Vancouver North East Chiefs
- Vancouver North West Hawks
Female
edit- Fraser Valley Rush
- Greater Vancouver Comets
- Northern Capitals
- Thompson Okanagan Lakers
- Vancouver Island Seals
Former teams
edit- North Island Silvertips (merged in 2023 with South Island Royals to form Vancouver Island Royals)
- Kootenay Ice
- Kootenay Wild (female)
U18 League champions
edit| Year | Champion | Pacific Championship | Result in Telus Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Vancouver North East Chiefs | Lost to Calgary Buffaloes | – |
| 2023 | Okanagan Rockets | Lost to Calgary Flames | – |
| 2022 | Vancouver North East Chiefs | Defeated Calgary Buffaloes | Sixth |
| 2021 | Was not played | Was not played | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2020 | Okanagan Rockets | Was not played | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2019 | Cariboo Cougars | Lost to Calgary Buffaloes | – |
| 2018 | Fraser Valley Thunderbirds | Lost to Lethbridge Hurricanes | – |
| 2017 | Cariboo Cougars | Lost to Leduc Oil Kings | Sixth |
| 2016 | Valley West Hawks | Lost to Lloydminister Bobcats | – |
| 2015 | Vancouver North East Chiefs | Lost to UFA Bisons | – |
| 2014 | Okanagan Rockets | Defeated Red Deer Chiefs | Bronze |
| 2013 | Vancouver North West Giants | Lost to Red Deer Chiefs | – |
| 2012 | Vancouver North West Giants | Lost to Red Deer Optimist Rebels | – |
| 2011 | Vancouver North West Giants | Defeated Red Deer Optimist Rebels | Fourth |
| 2010 | Vancouver North West Giants | Lost to Red Deer Optimist Rebels | – |
| 2009 | Vancouver North West Giants | Lost to Calgary Buffaloes[6] | – |
| 2008 | Cariboo Cougars | Lost to Calgary Buffaloes[7] | – |
| 2007 | Vancouver North West Giants | N/A[a] | Fourth |
| 2006 | Okanagan Rockets | Lost to Calgary Buffaloes[9] | – |
| 2005 | Thompson Blazers | Lost to SSAC Boston Pizza Athletics | – |
Telus Cup
editThe Vancouver North West Giants (2007, 2011), Okanagan Rockets (2014) and the Vancouver North East Chiefs (2022) are the only teams to have represented the league at the Telus Cup. Upon the Giants' winning the BC MML championship in 2007, a regional final with the AMHL was not necessary as Red Deer was hosting the Telus Cup that year.[10] The Giants finished fourth in the Telus Cup tournament in 2007 before returning four years later; they again finished fourth in 2011. The 2014 Rockets, meanwhile, won the bronze medal.
Prior to the inauguration of the BC MML, the national midget championship was held in British Columbia twice – hosted by Kelowna in 1996 and Prince George in 2001. The Burnaby Winter Club Travellers represent the only B.C. team to win the national championship, defeating the Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy from Quebec in 1982, as well as winning bronze in 1980.[11]
Timeline of franchises (since 2004)
editSource:[12]
Former member Current member
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Q&A". BC Hockey Major Midget League. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
- ^ "Past Championships and Awards | BC Elite Hockey League". www.bcehl.net. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "Rosters | 2022 TELUS Cup". www.hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "Program & History | BC Elite Hockey League". www.bcehl.net. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "BC Hockey AAA Leagues Rebrand as British Columbia Elite Hockey League". BC HOCKEY. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
- ^ "Pacific Midget Regional's - Game 3". BC Hockey. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ^ "National Playoff Bracket" (PDF). Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
- ^ "National Playoff Bracket" (PDF). Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
- ^ "Road to the Telus Cup" (PDF). Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
- ^ "2007 Telus Cup". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
- ^ "Telus Cup". Hockey Canada. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
- ^ "Elite Prospects - BCEHL U18 - Season 2023-2024". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.