Trail Smoke Eaters owner to head up the Board of Governors for BCHL

Trail Smoke Eaters owner Rich Murphy has been elected as the Chair for the BCHL Board of Governors, effective immediately.

Murphy was voted into the position after the incumbent chair of six-year, Penticton Vees owner Graham Fraser, made the decision to step down.

“It’s a great honor whenever your peers vote you in and I’m excited for the new challenge with what’s going to be ahead of us as we continue into our second year of independence in hockey and within our league.” said Murphy.

“I am pretty excited about it.”

Rich and his wife Annie bought the Smoke Eaters in 2016 and since then have been enjoying the journey with the smallest market in the league.

“The Smokier franchise that we purchased has been challenging, it’s been exciting, and it’s been fun,”

“COVID offered up a wrinkle in there as well, not only for our league, but for each and every team,”

“So, it’s been very challenging, but exciting at the same time and dealing with these young men who are trying to move on to expand their hockey career into college hockey, and then pros after that, it’s a very rewarding job.”

Fraser will remain on the league’s Executive Committee going forward.

Kootenay Contingent on the Committee

The Kootenays will continue to be represented on the committee with Ryan Donald for the Cranbrook Bucks elected to Competition Committee-Coach Position.

2024-25 Alignment and Playoff Format

The BCHL will welcome five teams from Alberta to integrate in the league next season.

The league will continue with its existing playoff structure with the first seed in each conference playing the eighth seed in the first round, the second playing the seventh seed, and so on. Five teams will not make the playoffs – two from the Coastal and three from the Interior.

The regular season will continue to consist of 54 games.