Spokane Braves

The Spokane Braves are a Junior "B" 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 team is the only team in the league to play in the United States. The Braves were founded in 1971 and had been in the KIJHL for the longest interrupted amount of time amongst all the current teams until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the team to sit out.
==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 Braves are an affiliate of the Western Hockey League's Spokane Chiefs and over the years several players have moved on to the Chiefs directly after playing for the Braves.
Due to the Canada-US border closure the team would sit out the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. On August 3, 2022 the KIJHL announced that the Braves would not be participating in the 2022-23 season due to issues involving recruiting a team that could meet Canada's COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada.https://www.kijhl.ca/spokanebraveswithdrawfrom202223kijhlseason
==Season-by-season record==
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OL = Overtime Losses, SL = Shootout Losses, D = Defaults, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Records as of February 19, 2012.KIJHL.ca, Regular season standings 2011–2012.KIJHL.ca – KIJHL Final Standings.
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OL 	Pts 	GF 	GA 	Finish 	Playoffs 	 	
1971-72 	19 	0 	19 	0 	— 	0 	26 	247 	6th, WKHL 	 	 	
1972-73 	30 	20 	20 	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 of 5 Neil Murdoch 	Did not qualify 	 	
2017-18 	47 	15 	28 	2 	2 	34 	137 	201 	5th of 5 Neil Murdoch 	Did not qualify 	 	
2018-19 	49 	19 	26 	0 	4 	42 	130 	176 	4th of 5 Neil Murdock 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 3-4 (Leafs) 	 	
2019-20 	49 	20 	23 	2 	4 	46 	137 	185 	3rd of 5 Neil Murdock 	Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Leafs) 	 	
2020-21 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions
2021-22 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic Canada-US border closure restrictions
2022-23 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada 	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination policy to enter Canada
2023-24 	44 	11 	32 	1 	0 	23 	133 	247 	5 of 5, Neil Murdoch Division 19th of 20 - 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 1, 2012.KIJHL.ca, Playoff Bracket 2011–2012.KIJHL.ca – Playoff Records.KIJHL.ca, Past KIJHL League Champions.
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	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
2021-22	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions 	sat out season due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
2022-23	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination requirement to enter Canada	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination requirement to enter Canada	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination requirement to enter Canada	sat out season due to COVID-19 vaccination requirement to enter Canada
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
==Awards and trophies==
Top Defenceman
*Bobby Tobiason: 1991-92
*Chase Wharton: 2009-10
*Skyler Smutek: 2007-08
*Kyle Davis: 2013-14
*Taylor Everhart: 2015-16
Rookie of the Year
*Jesse Collins: 2009-10
*Skyler Smutek: 2007-08
*Jason Greenwell: 2004-05
*Jon Manlow: 2013-14
*Mason Jones: 2015-16
Most Valuable Player
*Evan Witt: 2006-07
*Justin Bonanno: 2013-14
*Kurtis Redding: 2015-16
Top Scorer
*Chris Wagner 2002-2003
*Derek Ryan 2003-2004
*Evan Witt: 2005-06
*Kurtis Redding: 2015-16
"KIJHL AWARDS"
*Jon Manlow: 2013-14 Neil Murdoch Division Goalie of the Year
*Gary Redding: 2013-14 Neil Murdoch Division Coach of the Year
*Trevor DiLauro: 2015-16 Neil Murdoch Division Goalie of the Year
== References ==
==External links==
*Official website of the Spokane Braves
*Official website of the KIJHL
*Official website of the Cyclone Taylor Cup
*Official website of the Keystone Cup
Category:Kootenay International Junior League teams
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:Established in 1972