Times Colonist
The Victoria Grizzlies, conference semifinalists last season, will hit the road to start their 2024-25 B.C. Hockey League season.
The Grizzlies will open the BCHL regular season Sept. 20-21 with back-to-back games in Powell River against the Kings. The Grizzlies home opener will be Sept. 27 at The Q Centre against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The defending BCHL-champion Surrey Eagles make their first visit to The Q Centre on Oct. 25.
The Bulldogs open at home in Port Alberni against the Nanaimo Clippers on Sept. 20. The Clippers’ home opener at Frank Crane Arena is Sept. 27 against the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Cowichan Valley Capitals open at home against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Sept. 20 at the Cowichan Community Centres.
The BCHL announced its 2024-25 regular-season schedule Thursday.
The 21 teams will play 54 games each for a total of 567 league games in the regular season from Sept. 20 to March 30. There will be the addition this season of the five Alberta teams coming into the independent junior league.
A total of 91 per cent of the games will be on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or holiday dates.
“2024-25 is set to be a monumental season for the BCHL, in more ways than one,” commissioner Steven Cocker said in a statement.
“The full integration of our five new members, soon-to-be-announced event alliances and an elite group of incoming athletes are going to set the stage for an incredible year.”
The first game between an Alberta team and a B.C.-based team is Sept. 20 when the Penticton Vees visit the Spruce Grove Saints.
The current schedule release does not include exhibition games, BCHL Showcase games or Road Show event games, all of which will be announced in the coming weeks.
The BCHL Showcase, a one-stop shopping tournament for NCAA and NHL scouts, will run Oct. 13-17 at a site to be determined. Each team will play two games in the Showcase.
