The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) has announced its intention to become an independent league beginning in the 2024-25 season.
According to an April 29 press release, the VIJHL will no longer be affiliated with Hockey Canada or BC Hockey, following in the footsteps of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), which left the Hockey Canada umbrella in 2023.
“The VIJHL is pleased to announce our move to become an independent league starting next season and operating outside the Hockey Canada umbrella going forward,” said Simon Morgan, VIJHL President. “After months of hard work behind the scenes by the ownership group of our 11 franchises, the decision to move the VIJHL to a new junior hockey space will allow players more opportunities to develop in the future.”
The press release also adds affiliation agreements with higher levels of hockey, the ability to make “decisions in the best interest” of the league, and increased player numbers as benefits.
“We would also like to thank our former league partners in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and Kootenay Interior Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) for their years of partnership, and we wish them nothing but the best moving forward,” says Morgan.
