The B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League has announced that the Okanagan College Coyotes have ceased operations.
That leaves the BCIHL with six teams for the coming season.
“Okanagan College was a valued and competitive member of the BCIHL and will be missed greatly,” said league president Kim Verigan, in a league statement. “They put forward a very competitive team right from their first season. It will be a big change for the league and it’s very unfortunate these things happen in the hockey business. It’s important to recognize the team management, especially general manager Kolby Barnstable and head coach Kim Barnstable, for their hard work and dedication over the past three seasons.”
Said Thompson Rivers WolfPack GM Chris Hans: “I think Okanagan College’s decision to cease operation of their men’s hockey program is a reflection of the difficult, tenuous financial times collegiate athletics is experiencing in Canada at the present time. From our perspective, OC was our closest geographic opponent and was developing into one of our fiercest on-ice rivals.”
