# Spokane Braves

The Spokane Braves are a Junior 'A' Ice Hockey team based in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are members of the Neil Murdoch Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). They play their home games at Eagles Ice-A-Rena. The Braves are the only team in the KIJHL to play in the United States. They were forced to go on hiatus at the beginning of the 20/21 season due to the US/Canada border closure.

## History

Despite their long history in the KIJHL, the Braves have never won the league championship. They won their division in 1978/79, 1983/84, and the 1991/92 season. The Spokane Braves primary focus is to move players up to the next level such as the WHL, Junior 'A', and College Hockey.
The club was founded as the Spokane Valley Kings in 1971, finally becoming the Braves in 1985.
The WHL Spokane Chiefs drafted their first player from the Braves in the bantam draft in 2003.
Mike Bay coached the team for 13 years in the 2000s and 2010s, and returned as coach in 2018.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions in travel the Spokane Braves did not participate in the KIJHL. The 2023–24 season marked not only the return to the KIJHL but the 50th anniversary of participation in the KIJHL. The Braves returned to a league that had just been given recognition as being a Junior 'A' level hockey league.

## Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, D = Defaults, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season Results from 1971 to 2020 and COVID-19 :
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1971-72 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 0 | — | 0 | 26 | 247 | 6th, WKHL | |
| 1972-73 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 0 | — | 40 | 213 | 121 | 2nd, East | |
| 1973-74 | 30 | 17 | 13 | 0 | — | 34 | 181 | 165 | 3rd, East | |
| 1974-75 | 34 | 6 | 28 | 0 | — | 12 | 142 | 320 | 4th, East | |
| 1975-76 | 34 | 8 | 26 | 0 | — | 16 | 146 | 231 | 4th, East | |
| 1976-77 | 44 | 17 | 25 | 2 | — | 36 | 210 | 264 | 5th, East | |
| 1977-78 | 42 | 29 | 13 | 0 | — | 58 | 288 | 192 | 2nd, East | |
| 1978-79 | 40 | 27 | 12 | 1 | — | 55 | 271 | 173 | 1st, East | |
| 1979-80 | 40 | 28 | 11 | 1 | — | 57 | 255 | 161 | 1st, East | |
| 1980-81 | 40 | 12 | 28 | 0 | — | 24 | 208 | 257 | 5th, East | |
| 1981-82 | 42 | 20 | 21 | 1 | — | 41 | 227 | 257 | 4th, East | |
| 1982-83 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 0 | — | 52 | 241 | 201 | 3rd, East | |
| 1983-84 | 40 | 34 | 6 | 0 | — | 68 | 300 | 145 | 1st, West | |
| 1984-85 | 40 | 20 | 20 | 0 | — | 40 | 221 | 224 | 3rd, West | |
| 1985-86 | 39 | 27 | 11 | 2 | — | 56 | 253 | 166 | 2nd, East | |
| 1986-87 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 0 | — | 66 | 307 | 206 | 2nd, East | |
| 1987-88 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 0 | — | 52 | 263 | 236 | 3rd, East | |
| 1988-89 | 42 | 17 | 25 | 0 | — | 34 | 170 | 220 | 4th, East | |
| 1989-90 | 40 | 16 | 24 | 0 | — | 32 | 208 | 188 | 3rd, East | |
| 1990–91* | 39 | 17 | 22 | 0 | — | 34 | 200 | 255 | 2nd, East | |
| 1991-92 | 38 | 26 | 11 | 1 | — | 53 | 275 | 200 | 1st, East | Lost in Finals (Leafs) |
| 1992-93 | 42 | 31 | 10 | 1 | — | 63 | 302 | 203 | 2nd, West | |
| 1993-94 | 40 | 12 | 28 | 0 | — | 24 | 191 | 256 | 6th, West | |
| 1994-95 | 44 | 15 | 26 | — | 3 | 33 | 165 | 223 | 4th, West | |
| 1995-96 | 42 | 7 | 31 | 4 | — | 18 | 155 | 285 | 5th, West | |
| 1996-97 | 42 | 12 | 30 | 0 | — | 22 | 152 | 224 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | |
| 1997-98 | 50 | 18 | 29 | 3 | — | 39 | 189 | 232 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | |
| 1998-99 | 50 | 13 | 34 | 3 | — | 29 | 153 | 229 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | |
| 1999-00 | 46 | 21 | 22 | 3 | — | 45 | 237 | 214 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2000-01 | 58 | 24 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 53 | 237 | 241 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2001-02 | 50 | 16 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 156 | 209 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) |
| 2002-03 | 50 | 21 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 47 | 187 | 185 | 3rd, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Leafs) |
| 2003-04 | 50 | 28 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 62 | 211 | 184 | 2nd, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Finals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) |
| 2004-05 | 50 | 23 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 52 | 171 | 166 | 3rd, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Rebels) |
| 2005-06 | 50 | 21 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 50 | 177 | 177 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Nitehawks) |
| 2006-07 | 52 | 29 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 231 | 205 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Leafs) |
| 2007-08 | 52 | 19 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 44 | 158 | 210 | 4th, Neil Murdoch: East | Did not qualify |
| 2008-09 | 52 | 23 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 202 | 204 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Leafs) |
| 2009-10 | 50 | 28 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 58 | 196 | 176 | 3rd, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Finals, 3–4 (Leafs) |
| 2010-11 | 50 | 21 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 170 | 171 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Rebels) |
| 2011-12 | 52 | 21 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 192 | 254 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Nitehawks) |
| 2012-13 | 52 | 14 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 163 | 232 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Rebels) |
| 2013-14 | 52 | 22 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 48 | 160 | 177 | 4th, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Leafs) |
| 2014-15 | 52 | 25 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 161 | 161 | 3rd, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Rebels) |
| 2015-16 | 52 | 10 | 38 | 0 | 4 | 24 | 116 | 241 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2016-17 | 47 | 8 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 129 | 250 | 5th, Neil Murdoch Division 19th of 20 - KIJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2017-18 | 47 | 15 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 137 | 201 | 5th, Neil Murdoch Division 18th of 20 - KIJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2018-19 | 49 | 19 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 42 | 130 | 176 | 4th, Neil Murdoch Division 13th of 20 - KIJHL | Lost Division Semifinals, 3-4 (Leafs) |
| 2019-20 | 49 | 20 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 46 | 137 | 185 | 3rd, Neil Murdoch Division 13th of 20 - KIJHL | Lost Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Leafs) |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, D = Defaults, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Records as of March 3, 2024
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2023-24 | 44 | 11 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 133 | 247 | 5 of 5,Neil Murdoch Division 10th of 10 - Kootenay Conf 19th of 20 - KIJHL | Did Not Qualify for Post Season |
| 2024-25 | 44 | 9 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 104 | 216 | 5 of 5,Neil Murdoch Division 10th of 10 - Kootenay Conf 21st of 21 - KIJHL | Did Not Qualify for Post Season |

### Notes

* Stats for the 1990–91 season are only thru February 17, 1991. May not be complete

### Playoffs

Records as of March 29, 2020.
| Season | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Finals |
| 1999–00 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000–01 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2001–02 | L, 0-4, Beaver Valley | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | L, 2-4, Nelson | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | W, 4-3, Nelson | L, 0-4, Beaver Valley | — | — |
| 2004–05 | L, 1-4, Castlegar | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | L, 0-4, Beaver Valley | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | L, 0-4, Nelson | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | L, 1-4, Nelson | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | W, 4-2, Castlegar | L, 3-4, Nelson | — | — |
| 2010-11 | L, 1-4, Castlegar | — | — | — |
| 2011-12 | L, 1-4, Beaver Valley | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | L, 1-4, Castlegar | — | — | — |
| 2013-14 | L, 2-4, Nelson | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | L, 1-4, Castlegar | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2016-17 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2017–18 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2018–19 | L, 3-4, Nelson | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | L, 0-4, Nelson | — | — | — |
| 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 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 2022-23 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 2023-24 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |

#### Notes

* Prior to the 2001-02 KIJHL playoffs, there was only three playoff rounds (Division Semifinals, Division Finals and Finals), due to two Divisions (Eddie Mountain/West and Neil Murdoch/East) only.

## NHL alumni

* Dennis LaRue
* Sean Zimmerman
* Derek Ryan
* Scott Levins
* Mike McGeough
* Scott Parker