March 20th, 2025
The KIJHL’s recent announcement marks a pivotal transition for our league and team, evolving from extensive discussions on the loss of Junior A hockey to unsanctioned alternatives in our region. Discussions have evolved into a two-tier system that will allow historic rivals to compete together for one final season, after which significant changes are anticipated. While navigating this process has been challenging, we remain optimistic that these developments will lead to a positive outcome for the league in the future.
The KIJHL’s recent press release highlights that an assessment conducted by Blackfin Sports Group played a role in the selection of teams for the Tier 1 division. The report from Blackfin Sports Group highlights many strengths within our team, program, history, community, dedicated board of directors, and track record, reflecting a sense of pride despite being the KIJHL’s smallest community. However, it also pointed out two significant challenges: our relationship with the arena and the limitations posed by our community’s population size. While we are seeing positive developments in our arena relationship, the small population remains a persistent obstacle to our community’s overall ability to support a Junior A team effectively. Though we were presented with the option for an additional assessment, we concluded that investing our time and resources would not be beneficial, as we believed it would not significantly change the outcome. As a non-profit society, the initial assessment was already expensive, to have to pay for a second assessment did not seem fiscally responsible especially when there will now be 4 Junior “A” teams within a 20 minute to 1.5 hour drive from Sicamous due to this decision.
The Eagles’ board of directors has reached a unanimous decision to remain in their current division alongside Golden, Chase, and Spokane. This decision comes as the KIJHL concentrates on attracting expansion teams to enhance the league’s overall structure. By staying in this division, the Eagles aim to maintain their competitive edge and established rivalries while supporting the league’s efforts to grow and evolve. The board believes that this positioning will allow the Eagles to contribute to a stronger league environment, ultimately benefiting players, fans, and the community.
With over 30 years in the KIJHL, the Eagles have achieved significant success, winning the KIJHL Teck Cup three times and being crowned Cyclone Taylor provincial champions twice, which allowed us to compete in the prestigious Western Canada Championships. Our program has notably enabled players to advance to various competitive levels, including the NCAA, ACHA, ECHL, AHL, as well as leagues in Europe, SJHL, MJHL and the NHL, reflecting a proud tradition of development and accomplishment.
The team’s dedication to creating a positive culture and fostering talent makes the Sicamous Eagles an ideal platform for players looking to take the next step in their hockey careers. With a strong support system and a history of success, players can trust that they will receive the guidance necessary to thrive in the competitive world of hockey.
In our forward-looking plans, we are in the process of negotiating with new coaching staff and reintroducing the “Nest” into our program, which will accommodate a hybrid model for up to 10 players. This initiative will provide them with their own rooms and essential life skills training to help those who plan to attend college and university. We aim to transform the Nest into a year-round facility starting July 1, 2025. We will explore a variety of complementary programs designed not only to support the development journey of our future Eagles but also to engage others in the community who are interested in pursuing their own skill-building or training activities.
We are dedicated to providing our players with the highest quality program, fostering opportunities and growth for everyone involved. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our volunteers and community for their unwavering support. Together, we look forward to continuing our mission of player development with the Sicamous Eagles and the KIJHL for another 30 years and beyond.
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