# Grand Forks Border Bruins

The Grand Forks Border Bruins are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada. 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 the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena.

## History

Of the five teams that joined the KIJHL in 1969, the Grand Forks Border Bruins are the only team that has stayed in the KIJHL since the beginning of the league, 49 years ago.
The 2015-16 KIJHL season marked the first time Grand Forks made the playoffs in 18 seasons, defeating the Castlegar Rebels 4-2 in the Division Semifinals.
As of June 1st, 2021 the Grand Forks Border Bruins transferred ownership entering into private enterprise. They are currently owned and operated by Dr. Mark Szynkaruk a local physician in the community of Grand Forks B.C.
In August of 2023 the Border Bruins became the first team in the KIJHL to have a "Jumbotron" playing a live feed of their broadcast in the arena during games.

## 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 |
| 1969–70 | 32 | 1 | 31 | 0 | ― | 2 | 67 | 352 | 5th, KHL | |
| 1970–71 | 30 | 9 | 21 | 0 | ― | 18 | | | 4th, WKHL | |
| 1971–72 | 32 | 9 | 23 | 0 | ― | 18 | 143 | 247 | 5th, WKHL | |
| 1972–73 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1973–74 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 0 | ― | 28 | 163 | 206 | 1st, West | Lost in Finals (Colts) |
| 1974–75 | 34 | 14 | 20 | 0 | ― | 28 | 187 | 201 | 3rd, West | |
| 1975–76 | 34 | 11 | 23 | 0 | ― | 22 | 152 | 190 | 4th, West | |
| 1976–77 | 44 | 13 | 31 | 0 | ― | 26 | 178 | 277 | 5th, West | |
| 1977–78 | 42 | 12 | 29 | 1 | ― | 25 | 172 | 243 | 5th, West | |
| 1978–79 | 40 | 15 | 25 | 0 | ― | 30 | 203 | 226 | 3rd, West | |
| 1979–80 | 40 | 31 | 9 | 0 | ― | 62 | 332 | 182 | 1st, West | |
| 1980-81 | 40 | 9 | 30 | 1 | ― | 19 | 216 | 340 | 5th, West | |
| 1981–82 | 42 | 7 | 34 | 1 | ― | 15 | 193 | 368 | 6th, West | |
| 1982–83 | 42 | 9 | 32 | 1 | ― | 19 | 210 | 353 | 6th, West | |
| 1983-84 | 40 | 16 | 24 | 0 | ― | 32 | 227 | 273 | 5th, West | |
| 1984-85 | 40 | 4 | 36 | 0 | ― | 8 | 199 | 401 | 7th, West | |
| 1985-86 | 42 | 20 | 22 | 0 | ― | 40 | 247 | 256 | 3rd, West | |
| 1986-87 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1987-88 | 42 | 3 | 38 | 1 | ― | 7 | 148 | 436 | 5th, West | |
| 1988-89 | 45 | 6 | 39 | 0 | ― | 12 | 179 | 389 | 6th, West | |
| 1989-90 | 40 | 22 | 18 | 0 | ― | 44 | 227 | 195 | 3rd, West | |
| 1990-91 | 30 | 22 | 7 | 1 | ― | 45 | 198 | 169 | 4th, West | |
| 1991-92 | 38 | 20 | 16 | 2 | ― | 42 | 208 | 188 | 3rd, West | |
| 1992-93 | 42 | 37 | 5 | 0 | ― | 74 | 336 | 115 | 1st, West | |
| 1993-94 | 40 | 13 | 25 | 2 | ― | 28 | 192 | 296 | 5th, West | |
| 1994-95 | 44 | 18 | 26 | ― | 0 | 36 | 191 | 231 | 3rd, West | |
| 1995-96 | 42 | 23 | 19 | 0 | ― | 46 | 206 | 170 | 3rd, West | |
| 1996–97 | 41 | 22 | 18 | 0 | ― | 45 | 188 | 174 | 3rd, Neil Murdoch | |
| 1997–98 | 50 | 12 | 37 | 1 | ― | 25 | 182 | 282 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 1998-99 | 50 | 11 | 36 | 3 | ― | 25 | 166 | 241 | 6th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 1999-00 | 46 | 18 | 25 | 3 | ― | 39 | 232 | 241 | 6th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2000-01 | 58 | 9 | 44 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 171 | 347 | 7th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2001-02 | 50 | 10 | 35 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 148 | 269 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2002–03 | 50 | 15 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 148 | 219 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2003–04 | 50 | 8 | 32 | 6 | 4 | 26 | 128 | 223 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2004–05 | 50 | 6 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 128 | 324 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2005-06 | 50 | 4 | 40 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 135 | 302 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2006-07 | 52 | 13 | 32 | ― | 7 | 33 | 156 | 257 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2007-08 | 52 | 18 | 29 | ― | 5 | 41 | 164 | 239 | 4th, Neil Murdoch: West | Did not qualify |
| 2008-09 | 52 | 11 | 39 | ― | 2 | 24 | 132 | 278 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2009-10 | 50 | 6 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 119 | 284 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2010-11 | 50 | 8 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 145 | 267 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2011-12 | 52 | 1 | 49 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 106 | 455 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2012-13 | 52 | 8 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 130 | 273 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2013-14 | 52 | 16 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 186 | 250 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2014-15 | 52 | 8 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 129 | 293 | 5th, Neil Murdoch | Did not qualify |
| 2015-16 | 52 | 23 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 51 | 145 | 184 | 3rd, Neil Murdoch | Lost in Division Finals, 1-4 (Nitehawks) |
| 2016-17 | 47 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 46 | 173 | 194 | 4th of 5 Neil Murdoch 12 of 20 - KIJHL | Lost Div Semifinal, 1-4 (Nitehawks) |
| 2017-18 | 47 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 35 | 131 | 177 | 4th of 5 Neil Murdoch 15 of 20 - KIJHL | Lost Div Semifinal, 1-4 (Leafs) |
| 2018-19 | 49 | 21 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 184 | 209 | 3rd of 5 Neil Murdoch 11 of 20 - KIJHL | Lost Div Semifinal, 0-4 (Nitehawks) |
| 2019–20 | 49 | 13 | 31 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 143 | 233 | 5th of 5, Neil Murdoch 19 of 20 KIJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2020–21 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 19 | Remaining season cancelled due to COVID-19 | Remaining season cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2021–22 | 42 | 5 | 34 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 79 | 178 | 5th of 5, Neil Murdoch 19 of 19 KIJHL | Did not qualify |
| 2022-23 | 44 | 25 | 16 | - | 3 | 53 | 146 | 133 | 1st, Neil Murdoch | Lost Div Semifinal, 1-4 (Thunder Cats) |
| 2023–24 | 44 | 28 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 61 | 79 | 178 | 2nd of 5, Neil Murdoch 7 of 20 KIJHL | Won Div Semifinal, 4-1 (Leafs) Lost Div Finals, 2-4(Nitehawks) |

### Playoffs

7 Records as of March 16, 2024.
| Season | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Finals |
| 1997–98 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1998–99 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 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 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2002–03 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2003–04 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004–05 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2005–06 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2006–07 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2007–08 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 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 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2013-14 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2014-15 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2015-16 | W, 4-2, Castlegar | L, 1-4, Beaver Valley | — | — |
| 2016-17 | L, 0-4, Beaver Valley | — | — | — |
| 2017-18 | L, 3-4 Nelson | — | — | — |
| 2018-19 | L, 0-4 Beaver Valley | — | — | — |
| 2019-20 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 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 qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2022-23 | L, 1-4, Creston Valley | — | — | — |
| 2023-24 | W, 4-1, Nelson | L, 2-4, Beaver Valley | — | — |

## NHL alumni

* Ron Areshenkoff
* Rudy Poeschek
* Alan Kerr
* Craig Redmond
* Glenn Merkosky
* Kevin Sawyer
* Steve Passmore
* Mitch Fritz
* Neil Eisenhut

## Awards and trophies

Most Sportsmanlike
* Craig Materi: 2004-2005
* Neil Eisenhut - 1984-85
Most Popular
* Kelly English - 1994-95
Most Valuable Player
* Peter Smith - 2008-Present