Junior
Hockey Divisions
Junior hockey is generally played by 16 to 20-year-olds. There are 60 junior hockey teams in B.C. across five leagues. In British Columbia/Yukon, there are three (3) levels of junior hockey; the highest level is Major Junior (Western Hockey League - WHL), Junior A (British Columbia Hockey League - BCHL) and Junior B (Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, Pacific Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League - KIJHL, PJHL & VIJHL). Two BC Junior B teams (Dawson Creek Canucks & Fort St. John Huskies) play in an Alberta Junior B League (NWJHL).
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BCHL
The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is a Junior A league. The BCHL holds the honour of seeing more of its players moving on to play university or college hockey than any other league in Canada. Student athletes from this league have the ability to attend and play for post secondary schools in Canada and the USA.
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KIJHL
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is a Junior B league comprised of teams located in the Interior, Kootenays and Okanagan regions of BC and one in Spokane WA. Every season the Junior B league winners from each of the three leagues (KIJHL, PJHL, VIJHL) along with a host team, compete for the Cyclone Taylor Cup, BC Hockey’s Junior B Championship.
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PJHL
The Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) is a Junior B league composed of teams located across the Lower Mainland. Every season the Junior B league winners from each of the three leagues (KIJHL, PJHL, VIJHL) along with a host team, compete for the Cyclone Taylor Cup, BC Hockey’s Junior B Championship.
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VIJHL
The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) is a Junior B league comprised of teams from Vancouver Island. Every season the Junior B league winners from each of the three leagues (KIJHL, PJHL, VIJHL) along with a host team, compete for the Cyclone Taylor Cup, BC Hockey’s Junior B Championship.
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WHL
The Western Hockey League (WHL) is located in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States and is the Major Junior League for his area. The WHL has 22 teams in cities located in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Oregon and Washington. The WHL is one (1) of three (3) Major Junior Leagues that fall under the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) umbrella. The champion from each league, as well as a host team, compete annually for the Memorial Cup, the National Major Junior Championship.
