Looking at Langley’s junior hockey evolution from the Hornets to the Chiefs
The 2006-07 season saw junior hockey in British Columbia undergo dramatic changes. The Victoria Salsa rebranded as the Victoria Grizzlies, and the Chilliwack Chiefs were displaced by the Western Hockey League’s Chilliwack Bruins. The Chiefs moved into Langley to replace the Langley Hornets, while they relocated to West Kelowna to become the Westside Warriors.
Looking at the standings, it is interesting to compare the Langley Hornets’ 2005-06 record to the Langley Chiefs’ 2006-07 debut. This article compares the Hornets’ final season to the Chiefs’ first, covering the coaching staffs and rosters, and examining how Langley, Chilliwack, and West Kelowna have performed since that pivotal 2006-07 transition.
The Hornets’ final season
The Langley Hornets’ head coach for 2005-06 was Mike Coflin, who also served as the director of player personnel. Joining him as an assistant was Russ Webber. Before his time in Langley, Coflin was the head coach at the University of British Columbia and coached in Italy with Eppan/Appiano.
After the Hornets moved, Coflin continued a long career in hockey operations and now serves as an amateur scout for the Calgary Flames. For Webber, this was his first coaching job. After the Hornets relocated to West Kelowna, he became the head coach of the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s Ridge Meadows Flames.
On the ice, the Hornets relied on starting goaltender Ryan Riddle, who posted a 27-21-0-2 record in 51 games. His backup was Stephen Caple. The forward group was led by Graham Sheppard, Stevan Matic, and Chris Vassos, while Brock Meadows anchored the defense.
Sheppard notched 36 goals and 41 assists in 57 games, Matic added 22 goals and 30 assists in 53 games, and Vassos finished with 15 goals and 26 assists in 58 games. Meadows finished fifth in team scoring with 41 points on the strength of nine goals and 32 assists in 60 games.
The Chiefs arrive in Langley
Harvey Smyl took control of the new Langley Chiefs, serving as both head coach and general manager, with Barry Wolff joining as an assistant. Smyl had been a staple of the organization since the 1992-93 season. Wolff arrived in Langley with a coaching background that included stops in Quesnel, Fernie, and The Pas, Manitoba.
Smyl eventually followed the organization back to Chilliwack, remaining until the end of the 2011-12 season. Wolff departed before the team returned to Chilliwack and spent the 2025-26 season coaching the Nelson Leafs of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
In 2006-07, Derek Janzen handled the majority of the goaltending duties, finishing with a 22-22-0-1 record in 45 games, with Scott Orth providing support in 15 appearances. Up front, forwards Kyle MacKinnon and Taylor Stefishen led the way.
MacKinnon notched 33 goals and 59 assists in 60 games, while Stefishen added 25 goals and 31 assists in 59 games. Defender Nolan Julseth-White rounded out the top three, tallying 16 goals and 36 assists in 59 games.
The Hornets finished their 2005-06 regular season with a 32-22-4-2 record, good for third place in the Mainland Division, before a four-game playoff exit to the Burnaby Express. The following year, the inaugural Langley Chiefs finished 29-27-1-3, earning fifth place in the Coastal Conference, and also faced the Burnaby Express in the playoffs, falling in seven games.
Since that transition, all three organizations have tasted success. Langley’s franchise – now the Rivermen – saw its deepest playoff run in 2022, reaching the Coastal Conference semifinals. West Kelowna (formerly Westside) captured the national title by winning the 2016 RBC Cup, and Chilliwack secured the 2018 RBC Cup on home ice. While each team’s path has been unique, the 2006-07 transition remains a cornerstone of the BCHL’s modern history.
Photo credit: Garrett James Photography
