The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) announced their intention to become an independent league starting in the 2024-25 season.
According to a news release on April 29, 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 Hockey Canada’s umbrella in 2023.
“The VIJHL is pleased to announce our move to become an independent league starting next season and to operate outside of Hockey Canada’s umbrella going forward,” said Simon Morgan, the VIJHL’s president. “After months of hard work behind the scenes by the ownership group of our 11 franchises, the decision to move the VIJHL into a new space in junior hockey will allow players more opportunities for development going forward.”
The news release also adds affiliation agreements with higher levels of hockey, abilities to make “decisions that are in the best interest” of the league, and an increased player pool as benefits.
“We would also like to thank our former league partners in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and the Kootenay Interior Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) for their years of partnership and we wish them nothing but the best going forward,” says Morgan.