The 2024-2025 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) has already dropped the puck.
season launched on Sep. 5, as the Port Alberni Bombers travelled to Nanaimo to beat the Buccaneers 6-2, and the Victoria Cougars played host to the Kerry Park Islanders and lost 3-1.
The Campbell River Storm start the season today, hosting Lake Cowichan Kraken at the Rod Brind'Amour Arena. The Comox Valley Glacier Storm open their season with the Storm at the Comox Valley Sports Centre on Sep. 7.
This is the VIJHL's first season as an independent junior hockey league associated with the BC Hockey League. Each of the league's 11 teams will play a 48-game schedule that will be completed at the end of February, followed by playoffs.
“This is going to be a great season for the VIJHL,” says Mark MacDonald, the league's president. “We pride ourselves on being a league that features local, Vancouver Islanders playing hockey in their own backyards before families and friends, which has been a key to the league’s success over the years.
As a newly independent league, new doors have been opened regarding recruiting. Players from the United States and Europe can join teams in the VIJHL. Teams are allowed to sign one 15-year-old player.
“We’ve also been able to attract over a dozen officials who will work BCHL and VIJHL games, and we’re confident that we have players and officials that will find our league to be the perfect stepping stone to even higher levels in the great game of hockey,” says MacDonald.
Besides the influx of new players, there will be new but familiar faces behind the benches. Troy Newans is now coaching the Campbell River Storm after spending last season in Nanaimo with the Buccaneers, which has long-time BCHL coach Bill Bestwick leading the team. Richard Kimber is the new head coach in Comox Valley, Connor Logan in Victoria, Brian Passmore in Westshore, Jake Ebner in Kerry Park and Marek Babic in Oceanside.
