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Beaver Valley Nitehawks

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Beaver Valley Nitehawks
CityFruitvale, British Columbia
LeagueKootenay International Junior Hockey League
ConferenceKootenay
DivisionNeil Murdoch
Founded1981 (1981)–82
Home arenaBeaver Valley Arena
ColoursRoyal Blue, Orange and White
     
PresidentCanada Stephen Piccolo
General managerCanada Terry Jones
Head coachCanada Terry Jones
CaptainCanada William Ray
Websitebvnitehawks.com
Franchise history
1981–presentBeaver Valley Nitehawks
Championships
Playoff championshipsKeystone Cup: 2014
Cyclone Taylor Cup: 2017, 2014, 2001, 1997
KIJHL: 2017, 2014, 2012, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1997

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Fruitvale, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Neil Murdoch Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Nitehawks play their home games at Beaver Valley Arena. Stephen Piccolo is the team's president, and Terry Jones has been the general manager and coach since 2015. [1]

The Nitehawks joined the league in 1981 as an expansion team. In its KIJHL history, the team has won the Keystone Cup once in 2014; the Cyclone Taylor Cup four times, in 1997, 2001, 2014, and 2017; and have won the KIJHL Championship eight times, in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2014, and 2017. They won nine division playoff titles as a member of the Neil Murdoch Division from 1996 to 2014 and one conference playoff title as a member of the Kootenay Conference from 2007 to 2014.

The Nitehawks have retired five players' jerseys in their team history—Rocky Dickson (2), Barrett Jackman (6), Adam Deadmarsh (12), Sam Swanson (29) and Cody Franson (88).

Team history

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1979-1981: KIJHL application

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The idea of starting a junior hockey team in Fruitvale was born when Shirley Levesque, manager of the Beaver Valley Midgets, and Darrell Dickson, their coach, hosted a Beaver Valley Minor Hockey Tournament. During this tournament they noticed people from the valley, who had never before been inside the 10-year-old building, coming to games at six in the morning to watch the young talent. This was a good indication that there were many local hockey fans just waiting for some exciting and entertaining hockey; Darrell suggested to Shirley that they start a junior team, and the work began.

First they had to convince the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League that there were enough young hockey players in the area to man another junior team. This was not an easy task, as many KIJHL teams at the time were situated within a half-hour of Fruitvale, and a new team might cause them to lose players they had counted on—but on the other hand it was also appealing to them: they knew that great rivalries would begin, bringing new fans to their arenas. Since BVMH was one of the strongest minor hockey programs around at the time, it seemed fitting they should have their own junior team to go with it.

Once the KIJHL accepted, an executive was formed consisting of Darrell Dickson, Shirley Levesque, Roy Taylor, Noel Smith and Stuart McPhee. There was a contest to choose the name, and when Robbie Taylor of Fruitvale suggested Nitehawks the executive knew they had a winner. Kim Campbell of Trail designed the hawk for the jersey crest, the first coaches were Tom Gawryletz and Murry Price, Darrell Dickson was the manager, and the trainers were Barry Marshall and Leo Campeau.

1981–82

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The 1981-82 KIJHL season saw the first Beaver Valley Nitehawks hit the ice, led by captain Tyler Bolduc. The first year was very successful: the team went into a wild playoff with the Trail Smoke Eaters, and additional bleachers had to be brought into the arena for these exciting games. The Nitehawks were up two games to none, but when Trail came back to win the series they set the tempo of rivalry for years to come.

1982-present

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Over the next three decades the Nitehawks won their division championship nine times, the KIJHL championship five times (in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2012), and two provincial championships for the Cyclone Taylor Cup (in 1997 and 2001). When they won the Cup in 2001, their playoff win–loss record was a perfect 16-0.

Entering the 2013-14 KIJHL Playoffs, the Nitehawks have made nineteen consecutive playoff appearances since the 1995-96 season; winning six-out-of-nine KIJHL Championships and winning one-out-of-four Cyclone Taylor Cups in that span.

They set a record in junior hockey for the longest winning streak, which started in the 1997 season and ended in the 1998 season after 39 straight wins. Many players receive scholarships and continue on to play college hockey but, of course, the pride of Fruitvale and the Nitehawks is Adam Deadmarsh, who not only won the World Cup of Hockey with Team USA but also brought the coveted Stanley Cup home to the Beaver Valley Arena in 1996. Other players drafted by the NHL teams were Ed Cristofoli from the 1983 team, Neil Eisenhut from the 1985 team, and Barrett Jackman from the 1997 team.

Season-by-season record

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, D = Defaults, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Final records as of February 17, 2024.[2][3]

Season GP W L T D OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
1981-82 42 19 23 0 ― ― 38 211 270 4th, West Lost to Trail
1982-83 42 21 20 1 ― ― 43 235 232 2nd, West
1983-84 40 25 14 1 ― ― 51 237 219 2nd, West
1984-85 40 13 27 0 ― ― 26 204 255 6th, West
1985-86 40 12 28 0 ― ― 24 201 288 5th, West
1986-87 42 4 38 0 ― ― 8 157 383 4th, West
1987-88 42 15 27 0 ― ― 30 205 230 4th, West
1988-89 45 24 21 0 ― ― 48 205 223 3rd, West
1989-90 40 16 24 0 ― ― 32 169 220 6th, West
1990-91 40 24 16 0 ― ― 48 209 163 3rd, West
1991-92 38 21 14 3 ― ― 45 200 191 2nd, West
1992-93 42 16 26 0 ― ― 32 226 306 5th, West
1993-94 40 18 21 1 ― ― 37 206 262 3rd, West Lost to Nelson
1994-95 44 14 28 ― ― 2 32 172 203 5th, West
1995-96 42 14 27 1 ― ― 29 159 228 4th, West Lost to Castlegar
1996-97 41 26 11 4 ― ― 54 193 147 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions (Rockies)
Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions
1997-98 50 29 18 3 ― ― 61 228 204 1st, Neil Murdoch
1998-99 50 37 11 2 ― ― 76 219 139 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions (Grizzlies)
1999-00 46 30 13 3 ― ― 63 287 174 2nd, Neil Murdoch Lost in Division Finals (Leafs)
2000-01 58 45 7 3 ― 3 96 338 180 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions, 4-0 (Grizzlies)
Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions (Storm)
2001-02 50 37 9 3 ― 1 78 266 138 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in Finals, 1-3 (Eagles)
2002-03 50 42 7 1 ― 0 85 269 118 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions, 3-0 (Eagles)
2003-04 50 39 9 2 ― 0 80 239 133 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions, 1-0 (Storm)
2004-05 50 35 10 3 ― 2 75 255 143 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in Finals, 1-4 (Storm)
2005-06 50 35 10 3 ― 2 75 263 159 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in Finals, 1-4 (Eagles)
2006-07 52 35 14 ― ― 3 73 229 162 2nd, Neil Murdoch Lost in Division Finals, 2-4 (Leafs)
2007-08 52 32 12 ― ― 8 72 211 175 2nd, Neil Murdoch: West Lost in Conference Finals, 2-4 (Ghostriders)
2008-09 52 26 16 ― ― 6 58 182 170 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Rebels)
2009-10 50 23 22 1 ― 4 51 202 203 4th, Neil Murdoch Lost in Division Semifinals, 3–4 (Leafs)
2010-11 50 32 13 1 ― 4 69 202 170 2nd, Neil Murdoch Lost in Division Finals, 1-4 (Rebels)
2011-12 52 42 7 0 ― 3 87 323 154 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions, 4-0 (Chiefs)
2012-13 52 33 15 3 ― 1 70 228 160 2nd, Neil Murdoch Lost in Division Finals, 3-4 (Rebels)
2013-14 52 38 10 1 ― 3 80 229 143 2nd, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions, 4-2 (Storm)
Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions (Kodiaks)
Keystone Cup Champions (Pilots)
2014-15 52 35 12 1 0 4 75 208 152 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in Conference Finals, 1-4 (Dynamiters)
2015-16 52 34 11 4 0 3 75 224 150 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in Conference Finals, 1-4 (Dynamiters)
2016-17 47 38 5 1 0 3 80 218 105 1st, Neil Murdoch KIJHL Champions, 3-0 (Heat)
Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions (6-2) (Storm)
2017-18 47 27 15 2 0 3 59 170 127 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in Div Semifinal 3-4 (Rebels)
2018-19 49 27 17 3 0 2 59 187 153 3rd of 5, Neil Murdoch
6th of 20 KIJHL		 Lost Div Final 1-4 (Dynamiters)
2019–20 49 22 19 2 0 6 52 165 155 3 of 5, Eddie Mountain
10 of 20 KIJHL		 Won Div Semifinals, 4-0, (Ghostriders)
Incomplete Div Final 0-2 (Nelson)
Playoffs cancelled due to covid-19
2020–21 Inactive this season
2021–22 42 22 17 0 0 3 47 155 144 2nd of 5, Eddie Mountain
10th of 19 KIJHL		 Won Div Semifinals, 4-3, (Thunder Cats)
Lost Div Final 2-4 (Leafs)
2022–23 44 24 17 1 2 0 51 129 136 3rd of 4, Neil Murdoch
12th of 19 KIJHL		 Won Div Semifinals, 4-2, (Leafs)
Won Div Final 4-3 (Thunder Cats)
Lost Conf Finals, 0-4 (Dynamiters)
2023–24 44 32 9 0 3 0 67 206 111 1st of 5, Neil Murdoch
3rd of 20 KIJHL		 Won Div Semifinals, 4-0, (Rebels)
Won Div Final 4-2 (Border Bruins)
Lost Conf Finals 2-4 (Ghostriders)

Playoffs

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Records as of March 30, 2024.[4][5][6]

Season 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals
1999–00 W, 4-3, Osoyoos L, Nelson — —
2000–01 W, 4-0, Nelson W, 4-0, Osoyoos — W, 4-0, Revelstoke
2001–02 W, 4-0, Spokane W, 4-1, Castlegar W, 3-0, Columbia Valley L, 1-3, Sicamous
2002–03 W, 4-1, Castlegar W, 4-3, Nelson W, 3-0, Kimberley W, 3-0, Sicamous
2003–04 W, 4-0, Castlegar W, 4-0, Spokane W, 2-1, Round-robin W, 1-0, Osoyoos
2004–05 W, 4-0, Nelson W, 4-1, Castlegar W, 3-0, Kimberley L, 1-4, Osoyoos
2005–06 W, 4-0, Spokane W, 4-0, Nelson W, 3-0, Fernie L, 1-4, Sicamous
2006–07 W, 4-3, Castlegar L, 2-4, Nelson — —
2007–08 W, 3-0, Castlegar W, 4-3, Nelson L, 2-4, Fernie —
2008–09 L, 2-4, Castlegar — — ―
2009–10 L, 3-4, Nelson ― ― ―
2010-11 W, 4-3, Nelson L, 1-4, Castlegar — —
2011-12 W, 4-1, Spokane W, 4-3, Castlegar W, 4-1, Fernie W, 4-0, Kelowna
2012-13 W, 4-2, Nelson L, 3-4 Castlegar — —
2013–14 W, 4-0 Castlegar W, 4-2, Nelson W, 4-1, Creston Valley W 4-2, Kamloops
2014-15 W, 4-1, Nelson W, 4-0, Castlegar L, 1-4, Kimberley —
2015–16 W, 4-0, Nelson W, 4-1, Grand Forks L, 1-4, Kimberley ―
2016–17 W, 4-0, Grand Forks W, 4-0, Nelson W, 3-2, Kimberley W, 3-0, Chase
2017-18 L, 3-4, Castlegar — — —
2018-19 W, 4-0, Grand Forks W, 4-2, Nelson L, 1-4, Kimberley —
2019-20 W, 4-0, Castlegar Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2020-21 Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2021-22 W, 4-3, Creston Valley L, 2-4, Nelson — —
2022-23 W, 4-2, Nelson W, 4-3, Creston Valley L, 0-4, Kimberley —
2023-24 W, 4-0, Castlegar W, 4-2, Grand Forks L, 2-4, Fernie —

Cyclone Taylor Cup

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Year Finals Semifinals
2001 W, Campbell River W, 2-0, Delta
2003 — L, 0-2, Campbell River
Season Round Robin Record Standing Bronze Medal Game Gold Medal Game
2004 -, - , 0-0
-, - , 0-0
-, - , 0-0		 ?-?-? unknown of 4 L, Peninsula4-7 n/a
2012 -, - , 0-0
-, - , 0-0
-, - , 0-0		 ?-?-? unknown of 4 L, Delta 3-5 n/a
2014 L, Aldergrove 1-4
T, Nelson 2-2
W, Victoria 3-0		 1-1-1 2nd of 4 n/a W, Aldergrove 5-2
Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions
2017
HOST		 W, Campbell River 6-0
L, Aldergrove 3-5
W, Creston Valley 6-2		 2-1-0 1st of 4 n/a W, Campbell River 6-2
Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions

Keystone Cup history

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Western Canadian Jr. B Championships (Northern Ontario to British Columbia)
Six teams in round robin play. 1st vs 2nd for gold/silver; 3rd vs 4th for bronze.

Year Round Robin Record Standing Bronze Medal Game Gold Medal Game
2001 L, Ridge Meadows 3-7
T, Assiniboia 1-1
W, Edmonton 5-3
W, St. Malo 10-4
W, Westfort 7-0		 3-1-1 3rd of 6 W, Edmonton 5-3
Bronze Medalist		 tbd
2014 W, Abbotsford 10-2
W, Saskatoon 5-1
W, Blackfalds 5-1
W, Selkirk 3-0
W, Thunder Bay 4-0		 5-0-0 1st of 6 n/a W, Abbotsford 5-1
Keystone Champions
2017 T, Wainwright 3-3
W, Arborg 9-1
W, Nipigon 10-2
W, Regina 6-1
W, Peguis 8-2		 4-0-1 1st of 6 n/a OT LOst, 3-4 Wainwright
Silver Medalist

NHL alumni

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Awards and trophies

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More about their team records can be found on their website. [7]

References

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  1. ^ "Beaver Valley Nitehawks - Powered By esportsdesk.com". esportsdesk.com. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  2. ^ KIJHL.ca, Final 2017-18 regular season standings. Archived 2014-02-26 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "KIJHL.ca – Year end standings". Archived from the original on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  4. ^ KIJHL.ca, Current playoff bracket. Archived 2020-06-10 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "KIJHL.ca – 2017-18 playoff standings". Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  6. ^ KIJHL.ca, League champions. Archived 2013-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Team Records". www.bvnitehawks.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
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Preceded by Keystone Cup Champions
2014 		Succeeded by
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