The Castlegar Rebels will begin a new era of junior hockey when they open the inaugural Western International Junior Hockey League (WIJHL) regular season on Friday, Sept. 18.
The Rebels are one of the founding teams in the new league and will play a 44-game regular season that concludes Feb. 27, 2027. The 2027 WIJHL playoffs are scheduled to begin March 5.
Castlegar will compete in the league’s South Division alongside the Creston Valley Thunder, Kelowna Chiefs, Oliver Outlaws and Spokane Braves.
Each team will play 28 games against divisional opponents and 16 interdivisional games, giving fans an opportunity to see every club during the regular season.
League officials said 92 per cent of the 220 regular-season games have been scheduled on weekends to reduce weekday travel and help student-athletes balance hockey with their education.
The WIJHL will pause play for its annual holiday break from Dec. 20 to 30 before regular-season action resumes on New Year’s Eve.
WIJHL chairman Brandon Buliziuk said the release of the schedule marks another milestone for the league.
“The release of our regular season schedule marks another exciting milestone as we prepare for the 2026–27 season. On behalf of the Western International Junior Hockey League, I would like to sincerely thank our member communities, team Governors, ownership groups, Boards of Directors, league staff, volunteers, and everyone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this season to fruition. The commitment, passion, and collaboration shown across our league have been nothing short of exceptional. Together, we continue to build a league that is committed to developing young athletes, strengthening our communities, and providing an outstanding Junior Hockey experience for our players and fans.”
The WIJHL said it plans to release its 2026-27 pre-season schedule on Aug. 3.
The complete regular-season schedule is available at www.wijhl.com.
