KIJHL Power Rankings – (Week 4)

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is pleased to announce its first Power Rankings for the 2025-26 season. The Kelowna Chiefs are off to an excellent start under new head coach-general manager Rylan Ferster. They remain the lone KIJHL team that is undefeated in regulation time. Over the weekend, they swept a three-game road […]

KIJHL Notebook: Nitehawks’ Magarrell focused on speed

As a rookie last season, Brady Magarrell led all Beaver Valley Nitehawks first-year players with 34 points in 37 games. Those totals also ranked third on the team. He returns to a Nitehawks lineup with many familiar faces, giving him the confidence to perform at his best. The 6-1, 170-pound forward from Coaldale, Alberta is […]

Quick Shift: Creston Valley Thunder Cats

With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. Next in the Quick Shift series are the Creston Valley Thunder Cats.   Last season under new head coach-general manager Geordie Wudrick, the Thunder Cats went 16-24-4-0 and […]

ACAC’s Briercrest College strengthens goalie depth with Thunder Cats’ Smith

Brendan Smith of the Creston Valley Thunder Cats has committed to play collegiate hockey for Briercrest College in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. The Kamloops native went 12-16-0 (including a win with Kelowna to start the season) with a 3.11 goals against average and a .918 save percentage and one shutout. Smith earned one KIJHL […]

Thunder Cats’ Litoski signs with ACAC’s Portage College

Growing up in Calgary, Jace Litoski used to go to SAIT Trojans games in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. Now he’s getting the chance to play in the ACAC – with the Portage College Voyageurs this fall. The Calgary native had three goals and 14 points in 37 games for the Creston Valley Thunder Cats […]

Hockey Canada expands WCDM pilot project

Hockey Canada has announced that after a successful first season, the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM) pilot project will expand its scope for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on roster composition. Announced in July 2024, the WCDM pilot project is a joint initiative between Hockey Canada’s four Western Members, their respective Junior A hockey […]

Thunder Cats’ Schmideder signs with BCIHL’s Logan Lake

Creston Valley Thunder Cats captain Taylor Schmideder has signed to play collegiate hockey for the Logan Lake Miners in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League this fall. Schmideder, 20, set career highs in goals (8), assists (15) and points (23) this season with the Thunder Cats. He then added four points in six Kootenay International […]

Kootenay Conference bursary recipients

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is proud to announce the 11 student-athletes and an official selected to receive league bursaries for the 2024-25 season. Each bursary is valued at $1,000 and will be applied towards post-secondary studies.   Next are the recipients from the Kootenay Conference.   Logan Marsh – Game Official – Marsh […]

Top Shelf: The KIJHL podcast for March 14

Welcome to Top Shelf: The KIJHL podcast. This week on Top Shelf: The KIJHL Podcast – PLAYOFF EDITION. The ine+nutrition player spotlight shines on Carter Price, captain of the Grand Forks Border Bruins. Emanuel talks with Creston Valley Thunder Cat alum Harmon Laser-Hume, he’s with the Mount Royal University Cougars, who are off to the […]

Thunder Cats’ alum Laser-Hume gets more vocal with USports’ Cougars

Harmon Laser-Hume played for his hometown Creston Valley Thunder Cats from 2020-22, then moved onto the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, where he played for the Nipawin Hawks and Flin Flon Bombers for two-plus seasons. Laser-Hume is in his first season with the Mount Royal University Cougars in USports. He won both his starts and earned […]