| Coastal Tsunami | |
 | |
| City | Gibsons, British Columbia |
|---|---|
| League | PJHL |
| Conference | Tom Shaw |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Home arena | Gibsons & Area Community Centre |
| Colours | Deep sea blue, ice blue, boundless blue, shadow blue, red alert |
| Owner(s) | Julie Reeves |
| General manager | Brad Wingfield |
| Website | coastalhockey |
| Franchise history | |
| 2024-present | Coastal Tsunami |
| Previous franchise history | |
| Championships | |
The Coastal Tsunami are a Junior ice hockey team in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) based in Gibsons, British Columbia on the Sunshine Coast.[1] It will debut as an expansion team in the 2024–25 PJHL season.[2]
Team identity[]
The team name was chosen by the owners from among the approximately 250 submissions from the public.[3] The name Tsunami was submitted four times. Other submissions included references to The Beachcombers television series that was shot in Gibsons from 1972–1990 and remains an important cultural relic for the community, and The Blues, after the name used by Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey.[3] The team's colours are based on those used by the Seattle Kraken.[3] The official logo was designed by local designer John Ridd of Topshelf Creative. A secondary logo design featured a trident with a "C" curved around it as a reference to Poseidon, God of the sea, storms, earthquakes, and horses in Greek mythology.[3]
Inaugural season[]
The team was founded at a time of significant flux for Junior ice hockey in British Columbia. In 2023, governing body BC Hockey announced plans to restructure its junior hockey framework following the decision of its only Junior A league, the BCHL, to become an independent league.[4] The three Junior B leagues (PJHL, KIJHL and VIJHL) were summarily designated as "Junior A Tier 2", with plans to conduct an independent evaluation of those teams seeking to be promoted to "Junior A Tier 1". It was expected that those teams promoted to Tier 1 would eventually apply for membership in the CJHL.[5] In April 2024, the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League announced that it would withdraw from the Hockey Canada framework and become an independent farm league for the BCHL in the 2024–25 season.[6] The league expected the evaluations to be completed during the 2024–25 season.[7]
In the 2024–25 season, Hockey Canada and its four western affiliates – BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Hockey Saskatchewan and Hockey Manitoba – will pilot the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM). Under the WCDM, junior leagues will adopt most of the Western Hockey League rulebook, excluding some sections, and restrictions on 15-year-old affiliate players in the Western Hockey League will be loosened. Players that will be 18-years of age or older in the calendar year will be allowed to choose whether to use full-face protection or half-face protection, whilst younger players will be required to use full-face protection.[8]
Beginning in the 2025–26 season, the league will be divided into two tiers.[9] Seven of the league's 15 clubs will be promoted to tier 1, including the Chilliwack Jets, Coastal Tsunami, Delta Ice Hawks, Grandview Steelers, Langley Trappers, Richmond Sockeyes and Ridge Meadows Flames.[10] Tier 2 will include the Abbotsford Pilots, Aldergrove Kodiaks, Mission City Outlaws, North Vancouver Wolf Pack, Port Coquitlam Trailblazers, Port Moody Panthers, Surrey Knights and White Rock Whalers.[11]
Season-by-season record[]
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2024–25 | 48 | 19 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 140 | 188 | 7th of 8 in Div 11th of 15 in PJHL |
Did not qualify |
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "New PJHL hockey franchise coming to Sunshine Coast", My Powell River Now, 3 August 2023.
- ↑ "Abbotsford Pilots return to MSA Arena on Sept. 6", Abbotsford News, Black Press Media, 24 July 2024.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "‘It was strength’: Coastal Tsunami team name introduced to sold out crowd", Coast Reporter, Glacier Media Group, 4 December 2023.
- ↑ BC Hockey announces new Junior A pathway. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association.
- ↑ BC Hockey Junior A pathway update. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association.
- ↑ "Vancouver Island Junior B loop cuts ties with Hockey Canada, joins forces with BCHL", The Province, Postmedia, 30 April 2024.
- ↑ B.C. Junior A leagues partner with Blackfin Sports Group. British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association.
- ↑ "Feud for thought: Rivals Hockey Canada and BCHL provide duelling announcements", The Province, Postmedia, 12 July 2024.
- ↑ Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (18 March 2025). KIJHL league structure to change for 2026-27 season. Press release.
- ↑ "PJHL move to 2 tiers will divide 15 junior hockey teams next season", Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News, Black Press Media, 18 March 2025. (en)
- ↑ "Fraser Valley teams split by PJHL alignment set for next season", The Chilliwack Progress, Black Press Media, 18 March 2025. (en)
Additional reading[]
- "Tsunami sweeps up a local as its first committed player", Coast Reporter, Glacier Media Group, 23 May 2024.
- "Coastal Tsunami prospects camp to hit the ice", Coast Reporter, Glacier Media Group, 1 May 2024.
- "SCRD 'on-side' with junior hockey society asks", Coast Reporter, Glacier Media Group, 15 May 2023.
- "It's time to name the Sunshine Coast's new junior hockey team", Coast Reporter, Glacier Media Group, 6 October 2023.
- "Tsunami hires PJHL's first full-time female coach, exhibition games scheduled", The Peak, Glacier Media Group, 29 August 2024. (en)
- "Coastal Tsunami hire first female coach in the PJHL", My Coast Now, 3 September 2024. (en-CA)
- "Coastal Tsunami crush hometown opener", Coast Reporter, Glacier Media Group, 19 September 2024. (en)
External links[]
- Coastal Tsunami official website
- PJHL official website
- Town of Gibsons
- Sunshine Coast Regional District
- Sunshine Coast Junior Hockey Society
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