The Kimberley Dynamiters are lacing up for the 2026-2027 Regular Season of the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) as defending champions.
In April, it was announced that the BCHC will become B.C.’s sanctioned Junior A league starting in the fall.
The new league will include 22 teams across three divisions, including 14 current Kootenay International Junior Hockey League teams.
In the Kootenay Division, teams will include Beaver Valley, Fernie, Kimberley, Nelson, Grand Forks and the Columbia Valley.
The Dynamiters won the KIJHL Championship in April, and the league is now defunct.
BC Hockey says the move brings all Junior A hockey in the province under one league, with the champion awarded the Mowat Cup.
Head Coach Derek Stuart sat down with Pattison Media to talk about the upcoming season and how several “huge impact players” have finished up, including star forward Luke Davies, who is heading to university.
“We do have 12 returning players, but we also lost quite a bit of our roster; that was a big reason for our success,” said Stuart.
But the fact 12 players are returning, Stuart finds a “huge advantage” from a coach’s perspective.
“The players know what it takes to get the job done over the course of the season, and they can pass that knowledge on themselves rather than having a brand-new team where we sort of have to convince them what it takes.
“Half this team already knows what it takes. For me, that’s a big advantage before we even hit the ice.”
Stepping into a new season as the defending champions can bring pressure, but Coach Stuart says the team knows exactly what it’s like to be in the crosshairs.
“We’ve kind of had a bullseye on our backs for a number of years now, probably a decade already – us as well as Revelstoke,” he said.
“I think that won’t change. I think that the fact we are losing so many good players is definitely a challenge, but I think we’ve recruited well.”
Preseason will be a little different, as the Dynamiters’ home facility at the Kimberley Civic Centre is closed for work on the new shared ice plant with the Kimberley Curling Club.
The team will be practising in Cranbrook until September 21, when they can step back on home ice.
Preseason schedule
Preseason minicamp begins today (August 28) as players register, practise and prepare for three exhibition games ahead of the regular season.
- September 2: at Columbia Valley
- September 5: at Fernie
- September 12: at Nelson
Season expectations and fan support
The expectations remain consistent: the Dynamiters aim to be a championship contender again this season.
The team is also encouraging fans to attend regular-season home games, noting the impact their support can have on the players and the atmosphere in the rink.
“I think there are expectations from them as well; we’re going to do our best to ice a team that they’re proud of and a team that will entertain them and give ourselves and the fans a chance to have success.
“And I think last year was pretty special in the way fans got to share in the success and how we won the championship on home ice.
“So it was a perfect season. This year, we are going to do our best to try and put ourselves in a position to win again. “
Dynamiters’ first home game is September 26 at the Kimberley Civic Centre against the Revelstoke Grizzlies.
To buy tickets to the Dynamiters’ home games, click here.
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