# Columbia Valley Rockies

The Columbia Valley Rockies are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Invermere, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Rockies play their home games at Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.
The Rockies joined the league in 1978 as an expansion team. In its KIJHL history, the team has won the Keystone Cup twice, in 1989 and 1990; the Cyclone Taylor Cup once, in 1989. The Rockies have won the KIJHL Championship three times, in 1988, 1989 and 1990. They won five division playoff titles as a member of the Eastern Division from 1978-1996 and three division playoff titles as a member of the Eddie Mountain Division from 1996-2012.

## History

The team was founded by Eddie Mountain, of whom a KIJHL division was recently named. The team won three straight KIJHL Championships in the late 1980s and in 1989 took home the Cyclone Taylor Cup and the Keystone Cup under the direction of Tom Renney, who is currently an assistant coach of the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL.

## Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Records as of February 17, 2024.
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1978–79 | 40 | 18 | 22 | 0 | ― | 36 | 211 | 246 | 4th, East | |
| 1979–80 | 40 | 18 | 22 | 0 | ― | 36 | 239 | 250 | 4th, East | |
| 1980-81 | 40 | 19 | 21 | 0 | ― | 38 | 228 | 236 | 4th, East | |
| 1981–82 | 42 | 25 | 16 | 1 | ― | 51 | 253 | 224 | 3rd, East | |
| 1982–83 | 42 | 28 | 13 | 1 | ― | 57 | 266 | 209 | 2nd, East | |
| 1983-84 | 42 | 34 | 8 | 0 | ― | 68 | 298 | 158 | 1st, East | |
| 1984-85 | 42 | 33 | 9 | 0 | ― | 66 | 309 | 196 | 2nd, East | |
| 1985-86 | 39 | 23 | 15 | 1 | ― | 47 | 258 | 233 | 3rd, East | |
| 1986-87 | 42 | 28 | 14 | 0 | ― | 56 | 308 | 165 | 3rd, East | |
| 1987-88 | 42 | 35 | 7 | 0 | ― | 70 | 315 | 165 | 1st, East | KIJHL Champions (Smoke Eaters) |
| 1988-89 | 44 | 38 | 5 | 1 | ― | 77 | 341 | 107 | 1st, East | KIJHL Champions (Leafs) Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions Keystone Cup Champions (Tigers) |
| 1989-90 | 40 | 35 | 4 | 1 | ― | 71 | 281 | 120 | 1st, East | KIJHL Champions (Leafs) Keystone Cup Champions (Bruins) |
| 1990-91 | 41 | 35 | 6 | 0 | ― | 70 | 299 | 120 | 1st, East | Lost Finals (Smoke Eaters) |
| 1991-92 | 38 | 14 | 22 | 2 | ― | 30 | 199 | 200 | 2nd, East | |
| 1992-93 | 42 | 22 | 30 | 0 | ― | 44 | 256 | 237 | 1st, East | Lost Finals (Leafs) |
| 1993-94 | 40 | 23 | 14 | 3 | ― | 49 | 239 | 173 | 2nd, East | |
| 1994-95 | 43 | 27 | 15 | ― | 1 | 55 | 232 | 209 | 3rd, East | |
| 1995-96 | 42 | 20 | 22 | 0 | ― | 40 | 221 | 253 | 4th, East | |
| 1996–97 | 41 | 23 | 17 | 1 | ― | 47 | 198 | 208 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost Finals (Nitehawks) |
| 1997–98 | 50 | 36 | 14 | 0 | ― | 72 | 265 | 178 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | |
| 1998-99 | 52 | 22 | 30 | 0 | ― | 44 | 184 | 210 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | |
| 1999-00 | 46 | 32 | 13 | 1 | ― | 65 | 240 | 172 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | |
| 2000-01 | 54 | 19 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 193 | 306 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | Lost Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Grizzlies) |
| 2001-02 | 50 | 29 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 63 | 234 | 208 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost League Semifinals, 0-3 (Nitehawks) |
| 2002–03 | 50 | 27 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 176 | 168 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost division finals, 2-4 (Dynamiters) |
| 2003–04 | 50 | 32 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 71 | 228 | 164 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost League Semifinals Round-robin, 1-3 |
| 2004–05 | 50 | 27 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 64 | 194 | 161 | 2nd, Eddie Mountain | Lost division finals, 3-4 (Dynamiters) |
| 2005–06 | 50 | 26 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 200 | 174 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Lost Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Dynamiters) |
| 2006–07 | 52 | 22 | 26 | ― | 4 | 48 | 194 | 217 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | Lost Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Ghostriders) |
| 2007–08 | 52 | 15 | 33 | ― | 4 | 34 | 137 | 187 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain: East | Lost Division Semifinals, 1-3 (Eagles) |
| 2008–09 | 52 | 19 | 24 | ― | 9 | 47 | 178 | 215 | 5th, Eddie Mountain | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | 50 | 4 | 43 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 115 | 354 | 5th, Eddie Mountain | Did not qualify |
| 2010-11 | 50 | 11 | 35 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 134 | 243 | 5th, Eddie Mountain | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | 52 | 3 | 48 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 119 | 369 | 5th, Eddie Mountain | Did not qualify |
| 2012–13 | 52 | 21 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 48 | 160 | 202 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | Lost Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Ghostriders) |
| 2013–14 | 52 | 13 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 37 | 157 | 230 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | Lost div semi-finals, 0-4 (Thunder Cats) |
| 2014–15 | 52 | 12 | 34 | 0 | 6 | 30 | 142 | 245 | 5th, Eddie Mountain | Did not qualify |
| 2015–16 | 52 | 30 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 203 | 183 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Lost div semi-finals, 0-4, (Thunder Cats) |
| 2016–17 | 47 | 14 | 29 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 139 | 222 | 4th, Eddie Mountain | Lost div semi-finals, 0-4, (Thunder Cats) |
| 2017–18 | 47 | 19 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 45 | 167 | 188 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Won Div Semifinals, 4-2, (Thunder Cats) Lost Div Final 1-4 (Dynamiters) |
| 2018–19 | 49 | 22 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 159 | 182 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Lost div semi-finals, 0-4, (Ghostriders) |
| 2019–20 | 49 | 22 | 19 | 2 | 6 | 52 | 165 | 155 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Won Div Semifinals, 4-0, (Ghostriders) Incomplete Div Final 0-2 (Dynamiters) Playoffs cancelled due to covid-19 |
| 2020–21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 6 | Remaining season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Remaining season cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2021–22 | 42 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 158 | 123 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Won Div Semifinals, 4-2, (Ghostriders) Lost Div Final 2-4 (Dynamiters) |
| 2022-23 | 44 | 31 | 9 | — | 4 | 66 | 218 | 126 | 1st, Eddie Mountain | Lost div semi-finals, 2-4 (Ghostriders) |
| 2023-24 | 44 | 25 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 55 | 149 | 122 | 3rd, Eddie Mountain | Won div semi-finals, 4-1 (Dynamiters) Lost Div Finals, 2-4 (Ghostriders) |

### Playoffs

Records as of March 16, 2024.
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
| 2000–01 | L, 0-4, Revelstoke | — | — | — |
| 2001–02 | W, 4-0, Golden | W, 4-2, Kimberley | L, 0-3, Beaver Valley | — |
| 2002–03 | W, 4-3, Golden | L, 2-4, Kimberley | — | — |
| 2003–04 | W, 4-0, Princeton | W, 4-1, Kimberley | L, 1-3, Round-robin (Nitehawks) and (Storm) | — |
| 2004–05 | W, 4-2, Creston Valley | L, 3-4, Kimberley | — | — |
| 2005–06 | L, 2-4, Kimberley | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | L, 0-4, Fernie | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | L, 1-3, Sicamous | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010-11 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2011-12 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2012–13 | L, 2-4, Fernie | — | — | — |
| 2013-14 | L, 0-4, Creston Valley | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2015-16 | L, 0-4, Creston Valley | — | — | — |
| 2016-17 | L, 0-4, Creston Valley | — | — | — |
| 2017-18 | W, 4-2, Creston Valley | L, 1-4, Kimberley | — | — |
| 2018-19 | L, 0-4, Fernie | — | — | — |
| 2019-20 | 0-2, Kimberley | Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2020-21 | Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2021-22 | W, 4-2, Fernie | L, 2-4, Kimberley | — | — |
| 2022-23 | L, 2-4, Fernie | — | — | — |
| 2023-24 | W, 4-1, Kimberley | L, 2-4, Fernie | — | — |

### Cyclone Taylor Cup

| Year | Gold Medal Game | Gold Medal Game | Gold Medal Game | Bronze Medal Game | Bronze Medal Game | Bronze Medal Game |
| Year | Champions | Score | Finalists | Third Place | Score | Fourth Place |
| 1989 | Columbia Valley Rockies KIJHL | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― |

### Keystone Cup

Keystone Cup Champions :
| Year | Champions | Runners-Up | Consolation Champions | Host City |
| 1989 | Columbia Valley Rockies | Kinistino Tigers | Stony Plain Flyers | Gimli, MB |
| 1990 | Columbia Valley Rockies | Calgary Bruins | | Invermere, BC |

## Alumni

* Doug Barrault
* Taylor Dakers
* Wade Dubielewicz
* Cory Flett
* Marc Garthe
* Logan Koopmans
* Jeff Lank
* Riley Nelson
* Jason Marshall
* Tom Renney
* Craig Stahl

## Awards and trophies

Keystone Cup
* 1988-89
* 1989-90
Cyclone Taylor Cup
* 1988-89
KIJHL Championship
* 1987-88
* 1988-89
* 1989-90
Coach of the Year
* Matt Hughes: 2005-06 (Divisional)
Most Sportsmanlike
* Darryl Mcivor: 2003-04 (Divisional)
* Cody Steele: 2005-06 (Divisional)
* Cody Steele: 2006-07 (Divisional)
* Tyler Nypower: 2017-18 (Divisional)
Most Valuable Player
* Andrew Billinghurst: 2001-02 (Divisional)
* Jason Botterill: 2002-03 (Divisional And League)
* Reid Mitchell:2007-08, 2008-2009 (Team)
* Ryan Skytt: 2016-17 (Team)
Rookie of the Year
* Taylor Dakers: 2002-03 (Divisional)
* Trevor Bailey: 2005-06 (Divisional)
* Josh Antunes/Kale Hawryluk: 2017-18 (Team)
Top Goaltender
* Taylor Dakers: 2002-03 (Divisional)
* Tyler Bilton: 2003-04 (Divisional)
Playoff MVP
* Ben Kelsch/Ryan Skytt: 2017-18 (Team)
Top Scorer
* Rocky Mix: 2002-03 (Divisional)
* Brett Bjorkman: 2007-08 (Divisional)
Heart and Hustle
* Brandt Black/Fraser McMann 2017-18: (Team)
Coaches Choice
* Brennan Nelson 2017-18: (Team)
Most Improved
* Hunter Beckett: 2017-18 (Team)
Community Involvement
* Brandt Black: 2017-18 (Team)
Top Defenceman
* Kale Hawryluk: 2017-18 (Team)
Top Defensive Forward
* Brennan Nelson: 2017-18 (Team)
Top Forward
* Mike Dyck 2016-17: (Team)