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2023–24 BCHL season
The 2023–24 BCHL season was the 62nd season of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). The 17 teams from the Coastal and Interior Divisions played 54 scheduled games, including two games as part of the BCHL showcase, which were held in Seattle from October 22 to October 26 2023, in partnership with the NHL's Seattle Kraken.[1] The 5 teams in the stand-alone Alberta Division, which was created mid-season, played between 65 and 69 season games. League changesThe 2023–24 season was the BCHL's first season as an independent league, following its departure from Hockey Canada.[2] In an effort to limit the number of games decided by shootout, overtime was lengthened from five minutes to ten minutes. Games would still be decided by shootout if they remained tied after one period of 3-on-3 sudden victory overtime.[3] Team rosters were required to have a minimum of three players under the age of 18. Previously, they required one player under the age of 18.[4] Russian and Belarussian players were barred from the league.[5] The Wenatchee Wild folded after its owners acquired the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Winnipeg Ice and moved it to Wenatchee.[6] On January 20, 2024, the league announced that five teams from the Alberta Junior Hockey League would join the BCHL in the 2024–25 season, namely, the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders, and Spruce Grove Saints.[7] The league had planned to wait until the end of the season to make the announcement; however, rumours had already begun to circulate.[8] The AJHL responded to the announcement by cancelling most of the five teams' remaining scheduled matches except those between each other. It was then decided that the five Alberta-based teams would play out the rest of the 2023–24 season as a stand-alone division under the aegis of the BCHL.[9] For the post-season, the Okotoks Oilers and Spruce Grove Saints, respectively the 4th and 5th placed teams in the Alberta division, played a best-of-5 wildcard series, with the winner advancing to the Alberta division semi-finals along with the top-3 Alberta teams. The rankings for the Alberta division were determined by winning percentage including their regular season records from the AJHL. The semi-final and final rounds each consisted of a best-of-7 series. The Brooks Bandits defeated the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the final round 4 games to 1.[10][11] The Surrey Eagles won the BCHL Fred Page Cup championship after defeating the Penticton Vees in 6 games. The Eagles and Brooks Bandits then met for a best-of-3 competition hosted by Brooks and branded as the Rocky Mountain Challenge. The Bandits swept the Eagles in 2 games.[12][13][14] StandingsNote: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points British Columbia
Alberta
Alberta team standings are displayed separately from the rest of the BCHL on the league website. Post-season2024 BCHL Fred Page Cup playoffs
Alberta Division
Rocky Mountain Challenge
Scoring leadersGP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, P = Points, PIM = Penalties In Minutes
Leading goaltendersNote: GP = Games Played, Mins = Minutes Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, GA = Goals Against, SO = Shutouts, Sv% = Save Percentage, GAA = Goals Against Average.
Award winners
See alsoReferences
External links
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