For a city to secure a B.C. Hockey League franchise, it must accomplish several key steps. A city/municipality must possess a modern arena with more than 1,500 seats. A city must also have a sizable population. Ideally, the population should be above 10,000 people. Finally, any team must have a […]
Tag: Spruce Grove Saints
Spruce Grove to host the 2026 BCHL All-Star Weekend and what could come next
The 2026 BCHL All-Star Weekend has a new home. For the first time, Spruce Grove, Alberta, will host the festivities and — more importantly — the event is taking place outside of British Columbia for the first time in its history. From 2022 to 2024, the Penticton Vees hosted the […]
Examining the five teams that missed the 2025 BCHL playoffs
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 […]
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 […]
Victoria Grizzlies update: Signings and trades
The Victoria Grizzlies conducted two trades and one player signing to open the 2025 calendar year. On Jan. 15, the Grizzlies traded 2004-born defender Oscar Pantzare to the Penticton Vees for future considerations. Later that day, the Grizzlies signed 2004-born Major Junior defender Charles Côté to their roster. Finally, Victoria […]
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 […]
History made: The first games between B.C. and Alberta-based BCHL teams
On Sept. 20, the Spruce Grove Saints played their first game against a B.C.-based opponent when they hosted the Penticton Vees at the Grant Fuhr Arena. The next game between an Alberta and a B.C.-based BCHL team was the next night when Penticton visited the Crusaders at Sherwood Park Arena. […]
2024-25 BCHL jersey watch
It’s our favourite time of the year — time for another B.C. Hockey League jersey watch. This season we get to possibly see five new jerseys for the five Alberta-based teams that came into the BCHL midway through last season. We also say goodbye to the Merritt Centennials and […]
2024-25 BCHL schedule breakdown
As summer arrives, we officially start the road to the 2024-25 season. This season will see a massive change to the British Columbia Hockey League by integrating five Alberta-based teams into the regular season after they moved to join the league this past February. This is the first season that […]
Q&A with BCHL Chief Executive Officer Chris Hebb: Reflecting on rapid midseason expansion into Alberta
The 2023-24 British Columbia Hockey League season was unlike any other in the circuit’s 62-year history. Not only was it the first season of operation independent from Hockey Canada, but it also saw the addition of five teams from Alberta — as expansion clubs — midseason. On Jan. 20, 2024, […]


