BCHL - Independent League

The BCHL's Board of Governors has voted to not renew the league's agreement with Hockey Canada, meaning its 18 franchises will operate outside Hockey Canada's system as of June 1, 2023.

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 DIVISION 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.

BCHL announces expansion to Alberta

February 1 - The BC Hockey League (BCHL) has announced that five Alberta-based teams have signed franchise agreements and are now officially members of the league, as of January 31.

Effective immediately, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints are members of the BCHL.

The five teams will engage in competition with each other (20 games, 5 against each opponent) for the remainder of the season and will eventually crown an Alberta champion. Following the conclusion of the BCHL Playoffs, there will be an opportunity for the champion from Alberta to meet the champion from B.C. in a year-end competition.

The "Official" press release is HERE

Prospects Combine

The BC Hockey League (BCHL) will host a Prospects Combine in Toronto, Ont. from June 6 to 9, 2024, featuring players born between 2006 and 2009.

The four-day camp will take place at the Scotiabank Pond in the North York region of Toronto and will be led by BCHL coaches. All 22 BCHL teams will be in attendance, including coaches, general managers and scouts. The combine will include on-ice scrimmage games, as well as an off-ice education component on the BCHL and college hockey.

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

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:

COASTAL & INTERIOR DIVISIONS:

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

• ROUND ONE, April 5-16: The top-eight teams from each DIVISION 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, April 19-30: The teams will then reseed in the next round, for the following order: 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 in each DIVISION.
• ROUND THREE, May 3-14: The winners will then play in their respective DIVISION final.
• ROUND FOUR, May 17-28: Each DIVISION campion will then play for the Fred Page Cup, BCHL Championship.
• ROUND FIVE: (Coastal vs Interior winner) VS Alberta Division

ALBERTA DIVISION:

All five teams in Alberta will make the postseason, with the fourth and fifth seeds facing off in a best-of-five wildcard series to determine who will join the top three teams in the semifinal. Once their postseason reaches the semifinal, the remainder of the playoffs will be best-of-seven.

In addition, the year-end standings will be determined by winning percentage and the teams previous records from before their merge into the BCHL will count towards their standings.

• WILDCARD SERIES, April 10-16: best-of-five - 4 vs 5.
• SEMIFINALS, April 19-May 1: best-of-seven, 1 vs wilcard winner, 2 vs 3.
• FINALS, May 10-25: best-of-seven

BC vs AB:

• BC vs AB: Alberta Division vs (Coastal vs Interior Winner)

The two playoff winners will meet in a best-of-three series from May 31 to June 2, with all three games being hosted by the Alberta champion. This series will mark the official end to the 2023-24 BCHL season.