BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE - 2000's
League Years 2000's
The British Columbia Hockey League enjoyed another decade of relative stableization in the 2000's. There was very little expansion, contraction or team relocation. The 2000's saw no teams leave, although one took a two year leave of absence, three were added and four teams relocated.
The League maintained another decade of regional and national exposure in the 2000's. It recieved ten Mowat Cups - Provincial and four Doyle Cups - British Columbia versus Alberta. The League also had six Royal Bank Cup Tournament - National Championships, appearances, which includes two Royal Bank Cups (National Championship),2006 & 2009.
The League acquired its ninth and tenth National titles in the 2000's with the Burnaby Express in 2006 and the Vernon Vipers in 2009. With the Vernon Vipers win it was their third Royal Bank Cup, 1996 & 1999, and the franchises fifth National title. This would set a new Canadian record of five National titles for one franchise surpassing the Prince Albert Raiders who had four.
The League also hosted the National Championship Tournament, for the third time, in 2007 by Prince George Spruce Kings and again in 2009 by the Victoria Grizzlies.
In 2003, the league opened a League Office for the first time and a new leadership group came aboard to further the progress built over the past decade. Former Vancouver Canucks defenceman John Grisdale was named the BCHL's Commissioner while former Powell River Kings General Manager David Sales became the league's Executive Director. Under the stewardship of Grisdale and Sales, the league leapt into the 21st century by establishing a presence on the internet, expanding the league's business operations, and setting in motion the audio and video broadcasting that now brings BCHL into homes all over the country.
The league also enjoyed a series of fantastic seasons on the ice. While the Chilliwack Chiefs and Nanaimo Clippers dominated on the ice, each winning a pair of Fred Page Cup Championships, players from all over the league were catching the attention of National Hockey League and NCAA scouts. In 2006, Burnaby Express forward Kyle Turris announced his presence on the hockey world's radar with a dominant performance during his team's RBC Royal Bank Cup-winning season.
The Vernon Vipers made three consecutive RBC Cup Finals from 2009 to 2011, winning national titles in 2009 & 2010.
2000's Highlights
In the 2000's the league achieved the following.
- 10 - Mowat Cups - BC Championship
- 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
- 4 - Doyle Cups - BC vs AB Championship
- 2002 2004 2006 2009
- Runners-up: 2000 2001 2003 2005 2007 2008
- 2 - Royal Bank Cups - National Championship
- 2006 2009
- Runners-up:
2007
Bronze Medalist: 2000
Semi-Finalist: 2002
Appearance: 2004
2000's Season by Season Overview
Below you will find a brief overview of the each season in the 2000's.
» 2000-01 » 2001-02 » 2002-03 » 2003-04 » 2004-05 » 2005-06 » 2006-07 » 2007-08 » 2008-09 » 2009-10
- 2000-01
- 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs:
Coastal Conference: Best-of-seven, Preliminary Round - Top 6 teams
- Highest Seed vs Lowest Seed (other Division)
- remaining teams in Division play each other
Remaining top seed "bye" to Semi-Final
- other teams play a best-of-five
Interior Conference: Best-of-seven, 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3
Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Victoria Salsa
- 2001-02
- Coquitlam Express added
Salmon Arm Silverbacks added - 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs:
Coastal Conference: Best-of-seven, 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 Divisional
Interior Conference: Best-of-seven, 1 vs 6, 2 vs 5, 3 vs 4
- remaining top seed "bye" to Semi-Final
Preliminary Round, Quarter-Finals - best-of-five, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Chilliwack Chiefs
- 2002-03
- Williams Lake Timberwolves
added
Burnaby Bulldogs » Alberni Valley Bulldogs - 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs:
Coastal Conference: Best-of-seven, 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 Divisional
Interior Conference: Best-of-seven, 1 vs 6, 2 vs 5, 3 vs 4
- remaining top seed "bye" to Semi-Final
Preliminary Round, Quarter-Finals - best-of-five, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Vernon Vipers
- 2003-04
- South Surrey Eagles » Surrey Eagles
- 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs:
Coastal Conference: Best-of-seven, 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 Divisional
Interior Conference: Best-of-seven, 1 vs 6, 2 vs 5, 3 vs 4
- remaining top seed "bye" to Semi-Final
Preliminary Round, Quarter-Finals - best-of-five, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Naniamo Clippers
- 2004-05
- Penticton Panthers » Penticton Vees
- 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs:
Coastal Conference: Best-of-seven, top 8
Interior Conference: Best-of-seven, top 6
- top 2 bye to quarter-finals
Preliminary Round, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Surrey Eagles
- 2005-06
- Coquitlam Express » Burnaby Express
- 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs:
Coastal Conference: Best-of-seven, top 8
Interior Conference: Best-of-seven, top 6
- top 2 bye to quarter-finals
Preliminary Round, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Burnaby Express
- 2006-07
- Victoria Salsa » Victoria
Grizzlies
Chilliwack Chiefs » Langley Chiefs
Langley Hornets » Westside Warriors - 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs: Best-of-seven, top 8
each Conference
1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5
Preliminary Round, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Naniamo Clippers
- 2007-08
- Williams Lake Timberwolves - suspended by league
- 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs: top 6 each
Conference
- top 2 each Conference "Bye" to Quarter-Finals
Preliminary Round - best-of-five, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Penticton Vees
- 2008-09
- 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference - Island Division & Mainland Division
Interior Conference - Playoffs: top 6 each
Conference
- 1st Island & Mainland Division "Bye" to Quarter-Finals
- Top 2 Interior Conference "Bye" to Quarter-Finals
Preliminary Round - best-of-five, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final - Champion - Vernon Vipers
- 2009-10
- Williams Lake Timberwolves - re-enter
- 60 game schedule
Coastal Conference & Interior Conference - Playoffs, Best-of-seven: 1st in
each Conference recieve "Bye"
Elimination Round: Each Conference - 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5
High Seed vs Low Seed : Quarter-Finals , Semi-Finals; Finals - Champion - Vernon Vipers