The PJHL will become a two-tier junior hockey league next season, officials announced Tuesday (March 18).

The 2025-26 league alignment will see seven teams play in Junior A Tier 1, the other eight in Junior A Tier 2.

The top-tier teams are Chilliwack Jets, Coastal Tsunami, Delta Ice Hawks, Grandview Steelers, 91原创 Trappers, Richmond Sockeyes and Ridge Meadows Flames.

The Tier 2 franchises are Abbotsford Pilots, Aldergrove Kodiaks, Mission City Outlaws, North Vancouver Wolf Pack, Port Coquitlam Trailblazers, Port Moody Panthers, Surrey Knights and White Rock Whalers.

The move was announced and explained by British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) and BC Hockey, with changes coming to both Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL).

The leagues transitioned to Junior A Tier 2 ahead of the 2023-24 season.

"Since then, member teams have undergone an evaluation process, while the leagues have worked towards defining their structure from both a business operations and governance standpoints," reads the memo on .

The Junior A pathway continues to evolve, according to Cameron Hope, CEO of BC Hockey

"We are very pleased with the progress to this point," he stated. "The leagues continue to make solid decisions based on what is best for the long-term success of Junior A hockey in our region and their leagues. It has been of paramount importance for BC Hockey, the KIJHL, the PJHL as well as our partners and supporters that this process is done correctly.鈥�

PJHL Commissioner Trevor Alto calls the moves "a step forward in redeveloping junior hockey in B.C.

"It is the right time to establish both Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels in the PJHL, which will allow clubs to work with their tiered partners to grow the game and set standards to enhance the player experience," Alto added.

The KIJHL will continue as Junior A Tier 2 for 2025-26, but then transition 11 teams to Junior A Tier 1 for 2026-27. Seven teams in the KIJHL remain under evaluation to determine their status for 2026-27, and three KIJHL teams have already been placed in Tier 2 for 2026-27.

Meantime, the 2024-25 PJHL season continues this week with a Stonehouse Cup league championship series between Delta Ice Hawks and Ridge Meadows Flames, starting Wednesday night (March 19) in Maple Ridge. 

In April, champions of the PJHL and KIJHL will play for the Mowat Cup in Best of 5 series, to kick off with the PJHL champion hosting Games 1 and 2. The series will then shift to the KIJHL champions' turf for remaining games, including Games 4 and 5, if necessary.