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5 Alberta Junior Hockey League teams confirmed to join BCHL for 2024-25

Brian Wiebe

In a move that’s sent shockwaves across the junior hockey world, the British Columbia Hockey League confirmed on Saturday morning that the rumours are, in fact, true. The league announced that five teams that currently play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League have agreed to terms to join the BCHL for the 2024-25 season.

It’s unknown at this point what the terms are, but joining the 17-team circuit next season are the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and Spruce Grove Saints.

The league also indicated that the league structure will be announced in “the coming weeks” and that it won’t comment on the news until there is more information to report.

The announcement sees the BCHL balloon to 22 teams, which is the most ever in its history. Although the BCHL has had teams in the United States since as early as 1972, this is the first time it has ever included teams from Alberta.

The BCHL left the Canadian Junior Hockey League three years ago and decided to depart Hockey Canada and operate independently last June.

Brian Wiebe

Brian's been involved in the BCHL in a variety of capacities for 17 years. From 2002 to 2012, he served in several roles around the Merritt Centennials organization, including as team president, board member, beat writer, colour commentator, webmaster, media and communications coordinator and marketing assistant. He's been writing about the BCHL since 2008 and served as colour commentator on the TSN 1040 broadcasts in 2012-13. BCHLNetwork is one of Brian's many passion projects that he balances around his full-time job as an instructor in the Radio Arts and Entertainment Program at BCIT in Burnaby.