The Central Interior Senior Hockey League is based in British Columbia and began in 1997.
Origin of the CIHL [ ] Around 1996, four guys started talking about Senior Hockey in Fort St. James and about organizing a team. Those four people were Reo Martin, Rob McDougall, Jazz Rossa, and Terry Rysz and there efforts directly contributed to the evolution of the league you see today.
The first season the Fort St. James team raised enough money to fly a Powell River team up for a couple of games. They then continued to raise funds and eventually went to Powell River to play in a couple games. The next season, in 1997, Mackenzie, Quesnel and Williams Lake formed teams and came together with Fort St. James to form the Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL).
Since the CIHL was formed a number of teams have joined and left the league. One of the original teams, Williams Lake, rejoined the league in the 2003-2004 season after a few year hiatus. The Burns Lake Braves dropped out of the league at he end of the 2004-2005 season. Two new teams, the Hazelton Wolverines and the Omenica Ice joined the league for the 2006/2007 season, which also saw the splitting of the league into two divisions. In the 1998-1999 season 100 Mile House joined the league, eventually leaving the league for a few years before rejoining the league in the 2004-2005 season. Burns Lake joined the league in the 1999-2000 season. Most recently Kitimat (2002-2003), Houston (2002-2003), Smithers (2003-2004), and Terrace (2004-2005) have joined the league, bringing the total to eight teams as of the 2004-2005 season.
Hazelton and Omineca (based out of Vanderhoof) joined the league for the 2006-07 season. For the 2008-09 season the league added the Prince Rupert Rampage, they replaced the 100 Mile House Bears who had withdrawn from the league
2024-25 Teams [ ] East Division [ ] West Division [ ] Timeline of Teams [ ]
Team Centre Arena Tenure Notes
Fort St. James Stars Fort St. James, British Columbia Fort Forum Arena 1996-2003
withdrew
Mackenzie Moose Mackenzie, British Columbia Mackenzie Recreation Centre 1996-2000
withdrew
Quesnel Kangaroos Quesnel, British Columbia Quesnel Arena 1996-2000
withdrew
Williams Lake Stampeders Williams Lake, British Columbia Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex 1996-2002
withdrew
100 Mile House Bears 100 Mile House, British Columbia South Cariboo Recreation Centre 1998-1999
withdrew
Burns Lake Braves Burns Lake, British Columbia Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena 1999-2005
withdrew
Houston Luckies Houston, British Columbia Claude Parish Memorial Arena 2002-2014
withdrew
Kitimat Ice Demons Kitimat, British Columbia Tamitik Arena 1997-1999
withdrew
Kitimat Ice Demons Kitimat, British Columbia Tamitik Arena 2001-present
Current Team
Mackenzie Moose Mackenzie, British Columbia Mackenzie Recreation Centre 2001-2007
withdrew
Smithers Steelheads Smithers, British Columbia Smithers Civic Centre Arena 2003-2017
withdrew due to lack of players
Williams Lake Stampeders Williams Lake, British Columbia Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex 2003-present
Current Team
100 Mile House Bears 100 Mile House, British Columbia South Cariboo Recreation Centre 2004-2008
withdrew
Terrace River Kings Terrace, British Columbia Terrace Sportsplex 2004-present
Current Team
Hazelton Wolverines Hazelton, British Columbia Ken Trombley Memorial Arena 2006-2012
withdrew due to lack of players
Omineca Ice Vanderhoof, British Columbia Vanderhoof Municipal Arena 2006-2013
withdrew
Prince Rupert Rampage Prince Rupert, British Columbia Jim Ciccone Civic Centre 2008-present
Current Team
Burns Lake Braves Burns Lake, British Columbia Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena 2009-2011
withdrew
Lac la Hache Tomahawks Lac la Hache, British Columbia Rolf Zeiss Memorial Arena 2011-2016
withdrew
Quesnel Kangaroos Quesnel, British Columbia Quesnel Arena 2011-present
Current Team
Hazelton Wolverines Hazelton, British Columbia Upper Skeena Recreation Centre 2019-present
Current Team
Smithers Steelheads Smithers, British Columbia Smithers Arena 2019-2021
Withdrew due to COVID-19 restrictions
Nechako North Stars Fort St. James & Vanderhoof Fort Forum Arena & Vanderhoof Municipal Arena 2021-
Current Team
Smithers Steelheads Smithers, British Columbia Smithers Arena 2022-present
Current Team
League Seasons [ ] Links [ ]
Canadian Senior Hockey (post-1971)
National/Regional Championships
Allan Cup (National AAA)Patton Cup (Western Canada 71-91) - Bolton Cup (Eastern Canada 71-03)McKenzie Cup (BC-AB) - Rathgaber Cup (SK-MB) - Atlantic Cup (2003-) (NB-NL-NS-PEI)
Provincial/Local Championships
Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - New Brunswick - Newfoundland and Labrador - Northern Ontario - Ontario Hockey Association - Ottawa - Quebec (Also Eastern
Region Allan Cup Qualifier) - Saskatchewan - Thunder Bay /Gary Cook Cup /Hockey Northwestern Ontario
Current Leagues
Alberta : East Central Senior Hockey League (2012-) - North Central Hockey League (1995-) - North Peace Hockey League (also in BC, 1953-) - Ranchland Senior Hockey League (1974-) - Sask/Alta Senior Hockey League (also in SK, 1964-)
British Columbia : Central Interior Senior Hockey League (1997-) - North Peace Hockey League (also in Alberta, 1953-) - West Coast Senior AA Hockey League (2016-2018, 2023-present)
Manitoba : South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League (1952-) - Tiger Hills Hockey League (1983-)
New Brunswick : Beausejour Senior Hockey League (2019-) - Ligue de hockey Vallée-Appalaches (1991-) - Southern Senior Hockey League (2021- )
Newfoundland and Labrador : Avalon East Senior Hockey League (1967-) - Central Newfoundland Hockey League (Intermediate) (2009-) - Central/West Senior Hockey League (2014-2019; 2023-)
Nova Scotia : Major Series Hockey (2024-) - Nova Scotia Legends Hockey League (2024-) - (one team from Amherst plays in New Brunswick based Beausejour Senior Hockey League )
Ontario : Allan Cup Hockey (1991-) - Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League (2019-) - Ontario Elite Hockey League (2023-) - Ontario Super Hockey League (2024-)
Prince Edward Island : Prince County Senior Hockey League (2024-)
Quebec : Circuit Senior KRTB (2021-) - Ligue Regionale de Hockey (2016-) - Ligue de Hockey Cote-Sud (2012-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior du Lac-au-Fleuve (2017-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Élite (2005-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior A du Lac St-Louis (2022-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA de la Cote-Nord (2007-2014; 2022-) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AAA du Quebec (2017-) - Ligue de Hockey Sénior Desjardins de l'Est-du-Québec (2018-)
Saskatchewan : Big Six Senior Hockey League (1959-) - Cross Roads Hockey League (2022-) - Long Lake Senior Hockey League (1978-) - Notekeu Senior Hockey League (1958-) - Prairie Men's Hockey League (2024-) - Qu'Appelle Valley Highway Hockey League (2021-) - Sask/Alta Senior Hockey League (also in Alberta, 1964-) - Saskatchewan Prairie Senior Hockey League (2010-) - Sask East Hockey League (2020-) - Sask Valley Hockey League (1965-) - Sask West Senior Hockey League (2000-) - Treaty Six Hockey League (2004-2007; 2018-) - Twin Rivers Senior Hockey League (2016-) - Wheatland Senior Hockey League (1995-) - White Mud Senior Hockey League (1995-)
Northwest Territories : Presently have no Senior Level leagues in the territory
Nunavut : Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Hockey League (2008-)
Yukon : Presently have no Senior Level leagues in the territoryBC Hockey )
Defunct Leagues
Alberta : Alberta Major Intermediate League (1976-1987) - Beaver Hockey League (1969-1983) - Big Six Services Hockey League (1970-1975) - Allan Cup Hockey West /Chinook Hockey League (1955-2019, 2022-2024) - Battle River Hockey League (1992-2015) - Central Peace Hockey League (1986-1997) - Edmonton Central Intermediate Hockey League (1960-1976) - Edmonton Services Hockey League (1973-1974) - Henry Viney Hockey League (1972-1982) - Highwood Hockey League (1967-1972) - North Star Intermediate Hockey League (1963-1978) - Prairie Intermediate Hockey League (1973-1979) - Prairie Senior Hockey League (also in SK, 1971-1972) - South Peace Hockey League (1954-1988)
British Columbia : British Columbia Senior Hockey League (1979-1981) - Cariboo Hockey League (1955-1985) - Fraser Valley Hockey League (1971-1974) - Monashee Senior Hockey League (1970-1977) - Monashee AA Senior Hockey League (1985-1994) - North Okanagan Hockey League (1977-1982) - Northwest Hockey League (1975-1978) - Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey League (1957-1986) - Pacific Northwest Hockey League (1965-1982) - Richmond Intermediate Hockey League (1965-1975) - South Island Big Six Hockey League (1974-1980) - Vancouver Island Hockey League (1961-1975) - Victoria Intermediate Hockey League (1963-1974) - Western Amateur Hockey League (1966-1973) - Western International Hockey League (1946-1988)
Manitoba : Canadian Central Hockey League (1972-1974) - Carillon Senior Hockey League (2004-2022) - Central Amateur Senior Hockey League (1975-1989) - East Interlake Hockey League (1970-1976) - Eastman Hockey League (1998-2000) - Hanover Tache Hockey League (1958-2005) - Manitoba Aboriginal Senior Hockey League (2000-2001) - Manitoba Assiniboine Hockey League (1974-1983) - Manitoba Eastern Hockey League (1969-1977) - Manitoba Intermediate Hockey League (1971-1972) - Manitoba Northeast Senior Hockey League (1970-1989) - Manitoba Senior Hockey League (2008-2016) - North Central Hockey League (1958-2022) - Northern Intermediate Hockey League (1977-1978) - Nor-West Hockey League (1996-1997) - North West Senior Hockey League (2016-2017) - Parkland Hockey League (1964-1979) - Pembina Valley Hockey League (1970-1980) - Red River Valley Intermediate Hockey League (1980-1981) - Souris Valley Hockey League (1970-1987) - South Interlake Hockey League (1987-2008) - South Central Intermediate Hockey League (1960-1982) - SouthWest Hockey League (1956-2009) - West Interlake Hockey League (1954-1986) - Winnipeg Metro Hockey League (1973-1980) - Winnipeg Senior A Hockey League (1995-1997) - Yellowhead Intermediate Hockey League (1986-1989)
Maritimes : Maritime Senior Hockey League (1991-1992) - Northumberland Dairy Senior AAA Hockey League (1995-1998)
New Brunswick : Acadie-Gaspesie Senior Hockey League (2013-2014) - Central New Brunswick Intermediate Hockey League (1973-1977) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Acadie-Chaleur (2016-2022) - Miramichi Senior Hockey League (2000-2004) - Eastern Senior Hockey League (2001-2010) - New Brunswick Chaleur Hockey League (1991-1995) - Kent-Sud Senior Hockey League (1996-1999) - Moosehead Senior Hockey Mini-Serie (2010-2011) - New Brunswick Eastern Hockey League (1972-1973) - New Brunswick Senior Hockey League (1968-1991) - North East Senior Hockey League (2011-2018) - North Shore Senior Hockey League (1939-1978) - North Shore Senior Hockey League (1996-2010) - Saint John Valley Senior Hockey League (2004-2005) - South Central Intermediate C Hockey League (1975-1978) - Southern New Brunswick Senior Hockey League (1962-2010) - St. John Valley Hockey League (1966-1978)
Newfoundland and Labrador : Avalon West Senior Hockey League (1993-2000) - Bay St. George Senior Hockey League (1966-1984) - Corner Brook Intermediate Hockey League (1966-1984) - Deer Lake Intermediate Hockey League (1976-1985) - East Coast Senior Hockey League (2017-2020) - Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (2011-2014) - Newfoundland West Coast Senior Hockey League (2001-2011; 2016-2023) - West Newfoundland Intermediate A Hockey League (1973-1974)
Nova Scotia : Nova Scotia Senior Hockey League (1982-1996) - Tri-County Senior Hockey League (1973-1988) - West Island Senior Hockey League (1991-1996)
Nunavut : Iqaluit Senior Hockey League (2009-2023)
Ontario : Carleton-Russell Intermediate B Hockey League (1976-1980) - Central Ontario Hockey League (1970-1983) - Central Senior B Hockey League (1986-1989) - Central Ontario Super Hockey League (2024-2024) Cyclone Intermediate D Hockey League (1977-1984) - Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League (2003-2008) - Georgian Bay Intermediate A Hockey League (1968-1972; 1978-1980) - HNO Senior League (2009-2012) - Major Intermediate A Hockey League (1980-1983) - Niagara Intermediate A Hockey League (1965-1979) - North Oxford Men's Hockey League (1959-2012) - Northern Senior A Hockey League (1983-1992) - ACH Senior AA G-League (2021) - OHA Intermediate C Hockey League (1973-1986) - OHA Senior A League (1890-1979) - OHA Senior A Hockey League (1972-1987) - Ottawa District Senior Hockey League (1968-1977) - Ontario Senior AA Hockey League (1983-1988) - Seaway Intermediate C Hockey League (1973-1976; 1978-1984) - Seaway-Western Intermediate C Hockey League (1976-1978) - Seaway-Cyclone Senior B Hockey League (1984-1990) - South Carleton Intermediate Hockey League (1970-1980) - Thunder Bay Hockey League (1980-1982) - Western Intermediate C Hockey League (1973-1976) - Western Ontario Super Hockey League (2021-2024) - WOAA Senior AA Hockey League (1942-2023)
Quebec : Laval Senior A Hockey League (2013-2022) - Ligue Centrale de Hockey (LCH) (2000-2008) - Ligue Hockey de la Belle Province (1970-1973) - Ligue de Hockey Beauce Bellechase Frontenac (1999-2017) - Ligue de Hockey Semi-Contact de Lotbinière (2002-2006) - Ligue de Hockey Senior de la Mauricie (1992-1996) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Majeur du Quebec (1979-85; 1994-96) - Ligue de Hockey Senior de l'Est du Quebec (2005-2010) - Ligue de hockey Senior des Îles de la Madeleine (1991-2005) - Ligue de Hockey Senior A de la Mauricie (2001-2017) - Ligue de Hockey Senior A Inter-Rives (2006-2007) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA de l'Estrie (2001-2004) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA LAB-BEC (2012-2013) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (2002-2003) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Bas-Saint-Laurent (1994-2005) - Ligue de Hockey Senior des Cantons-de-L'Est (2011-2015) - Ligue de hockey les Cotiers de la Gaspesie (2002-2008) - Ligue de Hockey Senior des Deux Rives (2002-2003) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Montreal Metropolitain (2003-2007) - Ligue de Hockey Senior Provinciale AA (2004-2006) - Ligue de Hockey Senior AA L.D.B. du Quebec (1979-2000) - Ligue de hockey Budweiser de 'est du Quebec (2011-2013) - Montreal Senior Hockey League (1977-1980) - Outaouais Hockey League (1973-1975) - Promutuel Senior Hockey League (1999-2007) - Republican Hockey League (also in NB, 1962-1987) - Quebec Metro Senior Hockey League (1989-1991) - Quebec-Portneuf Commercial Hockey League (1990-2004) - Quebec Senior AA Hockey League (2018-2021) - Quebec Senior North-East Hockey League (2003-2007)
Prince Edward Island : Island Community Senior Hockey League (2010-2013) - Prince Edward Island Senior Hockey League (1990-1991) - Prince Edward Island Senior Hockey League (2010-2011) - West Prince Senior Hockey League (2016-2024)
Saskatchewan : 39C Hockey League (1968-1983) - 5-40 Hockey League (1962-1984) - Beaver Lakes Hockey League (1986-2018) - Big V Senior Hockey League (1954-1977) - Blackstrap Hockey League (1972-1985) - Carrot River Valley Hockey League (1950-1982) - Central Saskatchewan Intermediate Hockey League (1986-1990) - Central Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League (1988-1995) - Coteau Hills Hockey League (1951-1995) - Fishing Lake Hockey League (1953-2015) - Fort Carlton Senior Hockey League (1971-2019) - Highway Hockey League (1965-2020) - Last Mountain Hockey League (1954-1978) - North Central Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League (1968-1972) - Northern Lakes Hockey League (1966-1976) - North Saskatchewan River Hockey League (1995-2015) - Pasquia Hockey League (1977-2009) - Potash Cutarm Hockey League (1963-1975) - Qu'Appelle Valley Hockey League (1960-2021) - Right Angle Hockey League (1962-1985) - River Lake Senior Hockey League (1997-2000) - Saskatchewan Intermediate A Hockey League (1979-1983) - Saskatchewan Treaty Hockey League (2021)- Soo Line Hockey League (1980-2000) - South Central Senior Hockey League (1983-1990) - South East Senior Hockey League (1971-1973) - South Saskatchewan River Hockey League (1958-1979) - Three Rivers Hockey League (1980-1987) - Triangle Hockey League (1965-2020) - Western Saskatchewan Intermediate AA Hockey League (1966-1974) - Whiska Creek Hockey League (1980's-90's) - Wild Duck Hockey League (1961-1980) - Wild Goose Hockey League (1954-2008) - Yellowhead Hockey League (1980-2000)
Nunavut : Iqaluit Senior Hockey League (2009-2023)
Yukon : See Whitehorse Huskies (1992-1993, 2009-2010, 2014-2017)
