The Tri-Cities men's hockey landscape has changed in recent months, primarily stemming from the BC Hockey League's (BCHL) departure from Hockey Canada in pursuit of its own player development.
But now, fans of the region's two junior 'B' clubs — the Port Moody Panthers and the Port Coquitlam Trailblazers — may soon notice a new level of competitiveness on the ice this fall.
Both teams will be under junior 'A' status with BC Hockey for the 2023-24 season after the province's governing body for the sport and its stakeholders unanimously approved the promotion on Tuesday (July 25).
The reclassification applies to every team in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL), which includes Port Moody and Port Coquitlam, as well as the Vancouver Island (VIJHL) and Kootenay International leagues (KIJHL).
Players that choose to represent the Panthers and Trailblazers will now earn an even greater opportunity to grow and potentially reach higher levels of hockey, including the Western Hockey League (WHL), Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), and even beyond.
But one of the key cornerstones of the system that won't change is community engagement.
"That's what this is all about," said Port Moody Panthers general manager Brian Wiebe in an interview with the Tri-City News.
"The fact that we can offer grassroots junior hockey in communities around B.C., including Port Moody, and that's really exciting, too."
The players
For years, PJHL players have been subject to stereotypical "second rate" retorts in that they can't compete at higher leagues.
Wiebe believes BC Hockey's move is a reflection of the level of play current junior 'B' athletes have already shown in arenas across Metro Vancouver of the last several decades.
And, to Wiebe's point, while the Port Moody Panthers have struggled to find wins in recent seasons, the franchise has prided itself on strong player development — on and off the ice.
In June 2021, Carson Latimer became the first Panthers alum to be drafted to the NHL, selected by the Ottawa Senators 123rd overall.
Several dozen players that have come and gone from the City of the Arts have moved on to play at the collegiate level in Canada and the U.S., most recently goaltender Adam Goody with the University of Minnesota-Crookston in NCAA Div. II hockey.
"We're always striving to put the best team that we can and, more than anything, helping these players advance to a higher level of development is our entire goal, whether or not that leads to championships," Wiebe explained.
"Being a sanction team means that we can have those players affiliate with their Western Hockey League teams, they can go up and down between the two, just like they could when we were junior 'B.' But [that] speaks volumes to where they're looking at their role in this type of movement."
Rob Toor, director and governor of the newly-minted Trailblazers, agrees.
With the PJHL's return to Port Coquitlam set for September, there are more spots available for prospective junior-aged players to compete, improve and advance.
"We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to continue to develop B.C. players at the junior 'A' level within supervised and sanctioned leagues. In addition, all while playing within Hockey Canada and BC Hockey rules, regulations and oversight," Toor told the Tri-City News.
"I think this alignment clearly helps provide a direction for young players to understand their possible development paths."
The fans
So, with the spotlight now shining a little bit brighter on Port Moody and Port Coquitlam hockey, what does the promotion mean for the fans?
Perhaps more aggressive play on offense, more valiant kick saves and possibly more grit when the playoffs get closer.
It may not appear to be much of a difference, but the junior 'A' classification could go a long way to boosting players' confidence.
The Panthers and Trailblazers will begin next season as junior 'A' tier 2 teams for the next three seasons and BC Hockey explained successful campaigns could bump them up to tier 1 in applying for national affiliations.
"That's something that's definitely on the table for for down the road," Wiebe added.
"The short answer is 'yes' that there is the potential that a former junior 'B' team in British Columbia could compete for a national [junior 'A'] championship, just like there's a chance that a player for a former junior 'B' team in British Columbia could represent Canada West at the World Junior Challenge, which is an exciting thing."
The 2023-24 season schedule for Port Moody and Port Coquitlam has yet to be released.
