The three Cariboo-based Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) are trying to prove they belong in the higher ranks.
From July 4-6, the league held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a variety of tidbits and more for the upcoming season. However, most of note for the Cariboo teams - the 100 Mile House Wranglers, Quesnel River Rush, and Williams Lake Mustangs have confirmed their "intent to participate" in Phase 2 of the Junior A, Tier 1 assessment process, which is being conducted by Blackfin Sports Group this fall.
This comes after the league announced on Mar. 18 of this year that it was moving to a tiered system beginning in the 2026-27 season.
In that announcement, 100 Mile, Quesnel, and Williams Lake were stated as three of the seven teams who were going to undergo further assessment to see which they fall into. In last week's AGM, all three teams, along with the Castlegar Rebels, Creston Valley Thunder Cats, and Kelowna Chiefs confirmed they are willing to go through the process as they compete to make it to Tier 1.
As of right now, 11 teams are in Tier 1 and four teams are in Tier 2. Because of this, and the status of six teams being up in the air, the league is actively looking at communities and leadership groups for expansion to compete in the Tier 2 division.
Additionally, the Williams Lake Mustangs head coach and general manager Tyrel Lucas was elected to the KIJHL's Hockey Operations Committee.
The league also launched a Governance Review Sub-Committee. Greg Aiken of the 100 Mile House Wranglers was elected to serve.
