The 2025 BCHL playoffs are down to the league final, with two teams remaining in the quest for the Fred Page Cup. Under the current BCHL playoff structure, only five teams missed the playoffs. The two Coastal Conference teams that didn’t make the playoffs were the Powell River Kings and […]
BCHL playoffs
The evolution of the BCHL playoff format
The 2025 Fred Page Cup playoffs are well underway. This year, the format had the top eight teams in each conference making the playoffs, but that wasn’t always the case. Over the last six seasons, the BCHL has used three different playoff formats. For the 2020 playoffs, the Victoria Grizzlies […]
Examining the Capitals and Saints blockbuster December trade
On Dec. 16, the Cowichan Valley Capitals conducted a blockbuster trade with the Spruce Grove Saints. The Capitals received 2005-born defenders Adam Lang and Ryan Harvey from Spruce Grove for 2005-born defenders Luke McCrady and Frédéric Deschênes. This trade is a straight-up swap of blueliners. This article is a look […]
Clippers captain Merner loves playing for his hometown team
Nanaimo Clippers defender Brett Merner loves suiting up for his hometown team. The 2004-born athlete is in his third season with the British Columbia Hockey League club. Moving up to the junior ranks as a 17-year-old in 2021, the Nanaimo, B.C. product had options to go elsewhere but opted to […]
Examining the Surrey Eagles’ three RBC Cup runs
In their 31-season history, the Surrey Eagles made it to the national junior A championship three times. As the South Surrey Eagles, the team went to the RBC Cup in back-to-back seasons. As the Surrey Eagles, the team made the RBC Cup in 2013. No other Coastal Conference team has […]
Tovell plays big role in his lone season with the Silverbacks
As a young hockey player, Matthew Tovell of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks was drawn to try his hand at goalie. “I think the biggest thing for me was the goalie gear,” said the 21-year-old. “I was really drawn to the glove. I thought it was pretty cool. I always wanted […]
Eagles look to fly in the playoffs after a successful regular season
The Surrey Eagles are looking to fly in the British Columbia Hockey League playoffs as they have during the regular season. In 2022, the Eagles were swept in the Coastal Conference quarterfinals by the Nanaimo Clippers. That came after a 28-26-0-0 regular season and a sixth-place finish in the Coastal […]
Revisiting Alberni Valley’s acquisition of Arlo Merritt
Last season, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs were preparing for a deep playoff run and on January 5, 2022, made a trade with the Coquitlam Express. The Bulldogs acquired 2001-born forward Arlo Merritt from the Coquitlam Express for 2004-born forward Mirko Buttazzoni and future considerations. For both teams, the trade served […]
The recent history of the Cowichan Valley Capitals
For the Cowichan Valley Capitals, their recent history has been eventful. During the 2019 playoffs, the Capitals pulled off an upset win against the powerhouse Penticton Vees. In 2020, the Caps were ready for a deep playoff run. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic robbed Cowichan Valley of the […]
Record-setting 2011-12 Penticton Vees to be inducted to BC Hockey Hall of Fame
(BC Hockey League official media release) The 2011-12 Penticton Vees team who won the Fred Page Cup, Doyle Cup, and National Championship, while also setting the record for the longest winning streak in Canadian Junior A history, will be inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame on July 22. […]