The BCHC Junior A league launch includes the Fernie Ghostriders, who will move into the new provincially sanctioned Junior A structure this fall following approval from BC Hockey.

The decision, unanimously approved by the BC Hockey Board of Directors, establishes the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) as the province’s official Junior A league and brings 22 teams under one unified system. The new league will be divided into three divisions, including a Kootenay Division featuring the Ghostriders alongside the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Columbia Valley Rockies, Grand Forks Border Bruins, Kimberley Dynamiters, and Nelson Leafs.

This restructuring places all Junior A hockey in British Columbia under one umbrella, with teams spanning the Kootenays, Cariboo, Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, and Thompson-Okanagan. The BCHC champion will be awarded the Mowat Cup.

BC Hockey CEO Cameron Hope said the move is part of a broader effort to strengthen the province’s junior hockey pathway and re-establish a connected system for players and teams. The change also positions B.C. teams to return to national competition, including the Centennial Cup, pending acceptance into the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

BCHC commissioner Jeff Dubois noted the transition follows three seasons of work by clubs and stakeholders to elevate operations and meet Junior A standards. Teams were evaluated through an independent review process led by Blackfin Sports Group before being approved.

For Fernie, the move places the Ghostriders in a province-wide Junior A league while maintaining familiar Kootenay rivalries, marking a significant shift in the level and structure of junior hockey in the region.