Staff Changes

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.

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:

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.