2024–25 BCHL season
| 2024–25 BCHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | BCHL |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Number of games | 54 |
| Number of teams | 21 |
The 2024–25 BCHL season is the 63rd season of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and its second season as an independent league.[1]
League changes
[edit]The Merritt Centennials folded its BCHL operations and joined the KIJHL as an expansion team.[2]
The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) announced that it would withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework and operate as an independent farm league for the BCHL.[3][4]
The league introduced "universal affiliate" players. Teams will be allowed to supplement their rosters with affiliate players from the VIJHL and the Junior Prospects Hockey League (JPHL).
The league granted "exceptional player status" to Eli McKamey, a 15-year-old forward, allowing him to join the Penticton Vees' roster before the age of 16.[5] He was the first player to receive that designation from the BCHL.[6]
The league's 21 teams will be organized into two conferences — Coastal and Interior — with each conference divided into West and East divisions. The five Alberta-based teams, which left the AJHL part-way through the 2023–24 season, will play in the East division of the Interior conference, as will the Cranbrook Bucks.[7] The Prince George Spruce Kings, who had been in the Interior Conference, has been moved into the Coastal Conference's East division.[8]
The teams will play a 54-game regular season with top 8 teams from each conference advancing to the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the first seed in each conference will play the eighth seed, the second seed will play the seventh seed, the third seed will play the sixth seed, and the fourth seed will play the fifth seed. Each round will be a best-of-seven series with the winner advancing to the next round.[9]
2024 BCHL showcase
[edit]The annual showcase event will take place from 13 - 17 October 2024 in the Fraser Valley cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack, co-hosted by the Vancouver Canucks. The event is an opportunity for NCAA coaches and NHL scouts to observe all 21 teams playing two regular season games each. The games will played in the Abbotsford Centre and the Chilliwack Coliseum. The 2024 event will also include a JPHL under-18 showcase.[10][11]
During the event, the league will also pilot an initiative allowing coaches to lodge a challenge when they believe that a double-minor, major or match penalty should have been assessed. If the challenge is unsuccessful, the challenging team will be assessed a minor penalty for delay of game and will not be permitted another challenge for the rest of the match.[9][12]
Post-season
[edit]The first seed in each conference will play the eighth seed in the first round, the second seed will play the seventh seed and so on. The two last-place teams from the Coastal Conference, and the three last-place teams from the Interior Conference are excluded from the post-season.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "BCHL To Become Independent League". BCHL. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Centennials to Cease BCHL Operations for 2024-25 Season". Merritt Centennials. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ Ewen, Steve (30 April 2024). "Vancouver Island Junior B loop cuts ties with Hockey Canada, joins forces with BCHL". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ "VIJHL announces decision to become independent league". vijhl.com. Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
- ^ Wauthy, Alex (1 June 2024). "Eli McKamey, 15, scores exceptional status to play with the B.C. Hockey League". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Dheensaw, Cleve (18 May 2024). "Island prodigy and Royals draft pick first player granted exceptional status by BCHL". Times Colonist. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "B.C. Hockey League releases schedule for 2024-25 season". Global News. Corus Entertainment. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Dheensaw, Cleve (14 June 2024). "BCHL unveils new divisional format for 2024-25 season". Times Colonist. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ a b "2024 BCHL Annual General Meeting Recap". bchl.ca. British Columbia Hockey League. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Drewry, Brian (13 July 2024). "BCHL returns to Fraser Valley for annual Showcase". Times Colonist. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Ewen, Steve (12 July 2024). "Feud for thought: Rivals Hockey Canada and BCHL provide duelling announcements". The Province. Postmedia. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ McIntyre, Pete (14 June 2024). "BCHL unveils new alignment with Alberta teams, adds coaches challenge". Vernon Matters. Pattison Media. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ Rardon, Elena (25 June 2024). "BCHL: Alberni Valley Bulldogs getting ready for the 2024-25 season". Vancouver Island Free Daily. Black Press Media. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
The BCHL will continue with its existing playoff structure with the first seed in each conference playing the eighth seed in the first round, the second playing the seventh seed and so on. Five teams will not make the playoffs – two from the Coastal Conference and three from the Interior Conference.
Further reading
[edit]- Luciani, Stefan (14 August 2024). "Brave new world: BCHL commissioner talks Hockey Canada separation, NCAA and more". Chilliwack Progress. Black Press Media. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- Hall, Josh (20 September 2024). "Puck drops on BCHL season Friday night". rdnewsnow.com. Pattison Media. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- "Eli McKamey scores hat-trick in Vees' victory". Penticton Herald. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- DeRosa, Michael (5 April 2024). "Tavares to Bedard: Eight CHL Players Given Exceptional Status Before Landon DuPont". The Hockey News. Roustan Media. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- Lockhart, Logan (18 September 2024). "Eli McKamey, 15, set to make historic BCHL debut with Penticton". Today in BC. Black Press Media. Retrieved 22 September 2024.