Inaugrual Year As An Independent League
2023-24 British Columbia Hockey League Season

NEWS

NEWS

STAFF:

Promoted Brad Lazarowich from Director of Officiating and Player Safety to Vice-President of Hockey Operations and Jesse Adamson has his role changed from Manager, Communications and Events to Director of Communications and Events.

Returning are Coordinator of Finance Mario Galea and Safe Sport Officer Monique MacKinnon. Alex Waddington is back with a new title, from Coordinator of Events to Manager of Events.

Executive Committee and Management Awards

Executive Committee, includes league Board of Governors Chair Graham Fraser from the Penticton Vees, Salmon Arm governor Brooks Christensen, Alberni Valley governor David Michaud, Trail governor Rich Murphy, and Victoria governor Ron Walchuk. BCHL CEO Chris Hebb and Commissioner Steven Cocker also sit on the Executive Committee.

Cranbrook Bucks Owner and President Nathan Lieuwen was voted as the BCHL's Executive of the Year for 2022-23. Lieuwen's Bucks finished second in the Interior Conference in just their third year in the league.

Wenatchee Wild Director of Sales and Marketing Gretchen Littler was voted as the BCHL's Marketer of the Year for 2022-23.

FRANCHISES:

June 9 - The BC Hockey League (BCHL) Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Langley Rivermen to local businessmen Dana Matheson and Jamie Schreder, after purchasing the franchise from outgoing owner John Henderson.

June 16 - The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) acknowledged that the ownership group of the Wenatchee Wild has successfully acquired the Winnipeg Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and will be moving the team to Wenatchee for 2023-24. This will mean the BCHL"s Wild franchise will no longer be active in the league.

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RULE CHANGES

RULE CHANGES:

OVERTIME:

Move to a new overtime format in an attempt to end more games without going to a shootout.

Go to a 3-on-3 format for a 10-minute period in regular season games tied at the end of regulation. Previously, the league played a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period. Regular season games tied at the end of overtime will continue to be decided by a shootout.

ROSTERS:

  • Teams have a maximum of 25 active roster spots, plus an additional card if a team chooses to have a third goaltender.
  • A minimum of five players from B.C. on the 17 Canadian teams (This remains the same as in previous seasons and is similar to other leagues across the country).
  • * B.C. players will include athletes born in the province as well as those who have developed in the B.C. youth system for at least three of the past five years.
  • * Players from outside the province who change residency during or prior to the BCHL season will no longer be considered B.C. players. This was a Hockey Canada and BC Hockey regulation that proved to be a barrier for athletes who didn't have the ability to uproot their families.
  • U.S.-based teams will continue to need a minimum of five players from their branch (Washington State, Arizona, California and Colorado).
  • Canadian-based teams will require a minimum of 13 players from Canada.
  • U.S.-based teams will require a minimum of 13 players from the USA.
  • A maximum of two players from outside of North America is permitted per team. (Russian and Belarussian players are temporarily not allowed due to the political situation in Russia).
  • Teams can dress a maximum of 19 players and two goalies for a game.
  • A maximum of six 20-year-olds on a roster are permitted at one time in 2023-24, which remains unchanged from previous years.
  • A minimum of three players under the age of 18 are required for each team, which is an increase from two in previous years.
  • A minimum of four rookies are required on a roster, which remains unchanged from previous years.
  • A maximum of two former CHL players of any age are permitted on a roster. Ex-CHL players rostered to BCHL rosters as of Jan. 10. 2023 are to be grandfathered in.
  • A maximum of eight affiliate registrations are permitted per team. Affiliates may come from any independent minor/youth/high school league across North America.
  • * BC Hockey has dictated that CSSHL, BCEHL and Junior B can no longer affiliate with BCHL as an independent league

Important Dates

  • June 1, 2023: Registration opens for the 2023-24 season.
  • September 1, 2023: Training camps open across the BCHL.
  • September 30, 2023: A 24-hour roster freeze is in effect to avoid athletes being negatively affected by Hockey Canada's rule on players who choose to participate in independent leagues. Information will be communicated to players when they sign their Letter of Intent.
  • February 10, 2024: BCHL transfer deadline
  • March 1, 2024: BCHL signing deadline

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SHOWCASE SERIES

The BCHL has worked alongside the Seattle Kraken to bring the league's annual Showcase event to Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle. The building, which is the Kraken''s official practice facility, will host all 18 BCHL teams in October as they play two regular-season games in front of fans, NHL scouts and NCAA coaches over a four-day stretch. Kraken Community Iceplex features three NHL-size rinks, 12 dressing rooms, the Kraken's official restaurant 32 Bar & Grill, and more.

2023 BCHL SHOWCASE FESTIVAL BY BAUER OCTOBER 23-26, KRAKEN COMMUNITY ICEPLEX, SEATLE, WASHINGTON.
BCHL Teams GP W L OTL SOL PTs OTW SOW GF GA
Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Chilliwack Chiefs
Coquitlam Express
Cowichan Valley Capitals
Cranbrook Bucks
Langley Rivermen
Merritt Centennials
Nanaimo Clippers
Penticton Vees
Powell River Kings
Prince George Spruce Kings
Salmon Arm Silverbacks
Surrey Eagles
Trail Smoke Eaters
Vernon Vipers
Victoria Grizzlies
West Kelowna Warriors

Points garned during the "Showcase Series" are awarded towards the "Regular Season Standings".

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2022-23 BCHL REGULAR SEASON

Sortable Table - Clickable Columns, Click Sort, Click Reverse

INTERIOR CONFERENCE GP W L OL SL T PT OW GF GA PM CR BR
Cranbrook Bucks 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Merritt Centennials 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Penticton Vees 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Prince George Spruce Kings 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salmon Arm Silverbacks 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Trail Smoke Eaters 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Vernon Vipers 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
West Kelowna Warriors 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sortable Table - Clickable Columns, Click Sort, Click Reverse

COASTAL CONFERENCE GP W L OL SL T PT OW GF GA PM CR BR
Alberni Valley Bulldogs 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Chilliwack Chiefs 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coquitlam Express 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cowichan Valley Capitals 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Langley Rivermen 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nanaimo Clippers 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Powell River Kings 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Surrey Eagles 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Victoria Grizzlies 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

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PLAYOFF SERIES

PLAYOFF FORMAT

TIE-BREAKER CRITERIA:

WITH RESPECT TO PLAYOFFS, FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING THE TOP TEAMS, THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA SHALL BE USED UNTIL THE TIE IS BROKEN:

  1. The Team having the most POINTS.
  2. The Team having the most WINS.
  3. Team Having the Most WINS IN GAMES vs EACH OTHER
  4. The team having the most POINTS IN GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER
  5. The Team having the most POINTS IN GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER
  6. The Team having the best GOALS FOR AND AGAINST IN GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER. (by taking the goals for and subtracting the goals against in games between the teams)
  7. Should teams remain tied after the above tie breakers, the team with the MOST POINTS EARNED in games involving DIVISIONAL OPPONENTS ONLY will be used to determine the DIVISIONAL STANDINGS. (This tie-breaker only applies in determining divisional standings)

PLAYOFF FORMAT:

THE 2024 SHAW BCHL PLAYOFFS, WILL ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING STRUCTURE:

  • ROUND ONE: The top-eight teams from each conference will qualify for the postseason and play a best-of-seven series based on the following seeding: 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 & 4 vs 5.
  • ROUND TWO: The teams will then reseed in the next round, for the following order: 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 in each conference.
  • ROUND THREE: The winners will then play in their respective Conference Final.
  • ROUND FOUR: The winner of the Coastal Conference final will play the winner of the Interior Conference in the Fred Page Cup BCHL Finals.

ROUND 1

COASTAL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Team1a (1 vs 8) Team2a GF GA OT
#1, April 1, Team2a @ Team1a
#2, April 2, Team2a @ Team1a
#3, April 5, Team1a @ Team2a
#4, April 6, Team1a @ Team2a

Team3a (2 vs 7) Team4a GF GA OT
#1, April 1, Team4a @ Team3a
#2, April 2, Team4a @ Team3a
#3, April 4, Team3a @ Team4a
#4, April 5, Team3a @ Team4a

Team5a (3 vs 6) Team6a GF GA OT
#1, April 1, Team6a @ Team5a
#2, April 2, Team6a @ Team5a
#3, April 4, Team5a @ Team6a
#4, April 5, Team5a @ Team6a

Team7a (4 vs 5) Team8a GF GA OT
#1, April 1, Team8a @ Team7a
#2, April 2, Team8a @ Team7a
#3, April 5, Team7a @ Team8a
#4, April 6, Team7a @ Team8a

INTERIOR CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Team9a (1 vs 8) Team10a GF GA OT
#1, Mar 31, Team10a @ Team9a
#2, April 1, Team10a @ Team9a
#3, April 4, Team9a @ Team10a
#4, April 5, Team9a @ Team10a

Team11a (2 vs 7) Team12a GF GA OT
#1, April 2, Team12a @ Team11a
#2, April 3, Team12a @ Team11a
#3, April 5, Team11a @ Team12a
#4, April 6, Team11a @ Team12a

Team13a (3 vs 6) Team14a GF GA OT
#1, April 1, Team14a @ Team13a
#2, April 2, Team14a @ Team13a
#3, April 4, Team13a @ Team14a
#4, April 6, Team13a @ Team14a

Team15a (4 vs 5) Team16a GF GA OT
#1, April 1, Team16a @ Team15a
#2, April 2, Team16a @ Team15a - - -
#3, April 4, Team15a @ Team16a
#4, April 5, Team15a @ Team16a

ROUND 2

COASTAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Team1b (1 vs 4) Team2b GF GA OT
#1, April 15, Team2b @ Team1b
#2, April 16, Team2b @ Team1b
#3, April 19, Team1b @ Team2b
#4, April 20, Team1b @ Team2b

Team3b (2 vs 3) Team4b GF GA OT
#1, April 15, Team4b @ Team3b
#2, April 16, Team4b @ Team3b
#3, April 18, Team3b @ Team4b
#4, April 19, Team3b @ Team4b

INTERIOR CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Team5b (1 vs 4) Team6b GF GA OT
#1, April 14, Team6b @ Team5b 2 1 -
#2, April 14, Team6b @ Team5b
#3, April 18, Team5b @ Team6b
#4, April 19, Team5b @ Team6b

Team7b (2 vs 3) Team8b GF GA OT
#1, April 15, Team8b @ Team7b
#2, April 16, Team8b @ Team7b
#3, April 18, Team7b @ Team8b
#4, April 20, Team7b @ Team8b

ROUND 3

COASTAL CONFERENCE FINALS
Team1c vs Team2c GF GA OT
#1, April 29, Team2c @ Team1c
#2, April 30, Team2c @ Team1c
#3, May 3, Team1c @ Team2c
#4, May 4, Team1c @ Team2c

INTERIOR CONFERENCE FINALS
Team3c vs Team4c GF GA OT
#1, April 29, Team4c @ Team3c
#2, April 30, Team4c @ Team3c
#3, May 1, Team3c @ Team4c
#4, May 4, Team3c @ Team4c

ROUND 4

FRED PAGE CUP
#1, April 12, Coastal @ Interior 0 0 0
#2, April 13, Coastal @ Interior 0 0 0
#3, April 16, Interior @ Coastal 0 0 0
#4, April 17, Interior @ Coastal 0 0 0

NOTE:

  1. On Friday, April 9, 2021, the British Columbia Hockey League announced it had withdrawn its membership from the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
  2. On Monday, May 1, 2023, the British Columbia Hockey League announced it will not renew the league's agreement with Hockey Canada, meaning it will be an independent league operateing outside Hockey Canada's system (Non-Sanctioned League) as of June 1, 2023.

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