The Cranbrook Colts were a Junior "B" and a Junior "A" team in

Cranbrook, British Columbia Cranbrook ( ) is a city in southeast British Columbia, Canada, located approximately 10 km southwest of the confluence of the Kootenay River and the St. Mary River (British Columbia), St. Mary's River. It is the largest urban centre in the region ...

. They were formed in 1970 as a Junior "B" team in the

Kootenay International Junior Hockey League The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is a junior ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada and Washington (state), Washington, USA sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the Teck Resources, Teck Cup competes with the ch ...

. They were immediately successful, winning the league title in their first four years. The Colts jumped to the Junior "A"

Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League The Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League was a Junior "A" ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. * 1966–1975 – Peace Junior B Hockey League (PJBHL) * 1975–1991 – Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League (PCJHL) * 1991–1999 – Rocky ...

in 1991, winning three league titles in their seven years in the league. The Colts folded in 1998 and with that, the whole league (RMJHL) the year after folded, because of the forming of the

Kootenay Ice The Kootenay Ice (officially stylized as ICE) were a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia, competing in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and playing its home games at Western Financial Place. The franchise, ...

, a major junior team in the

Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...

. The Ice relocated to

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

after the 2018-19 WHL season, going back once again to junior "A" in the

BCHL The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is an independent Canadian Junior ice hockey league with 21 teams in British Columbia and Alberta. It was classified as a Junior "A" league within the Hockey Canada framework, until it became independe ...

for the 2020-21 BCHL season, as the

Cranbrook Bucks The Cranbrook Bucks are a Junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at Western Financial Place. Histo ...

Championships

: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987. *

Cyclone Taylor Cup The Cyclone Taylor Cup tournament serves as the British Columbia Provincial Junior B Hockey Championship. The annual tournament is held amongst the champions of British Columbia's three Junior ice hockey#Junior B, C, D, Junior B ice hockey leagues, ...

: 1974, 1975, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987. *

: 1995, 1997, 1998.

History

In 1971, the Cranbrook Colts joined the KIJHL with a partial schedule. After going undefeated in nineteen games, Colts went on to win the league playoff title. For much of the 1970s, the Colts were the elite of the KIJHL and amongst the best

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

Junior B hockey had to offer. The Colts went on to win KIJHL playoff titles in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1976, topping this off with

s as Provincial Champions in 1974 and 1975. In the early 1980s, the Colts came back to their winning ways, taking league titles in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. They completed this dynastic run by winning the Cyclone Taylor Cup a total of five times, first in 1982, then consecutively in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. In 1991, the Colts joined the

Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League The Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League was a Junior "A" ice hockey league in British Columbia, Canada. * 1966–1975 – Peace Junior B Hockey League (PJBHL) * 1975–1991 – Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League (PCJHL) * 1991–1999 – Rocky ...

with a group of other KIJHL teams to form the Kootenay Division of what was to now be known as the

. The PCJHL had been a tiny Junior "A" league bridging the

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

North-Central border since 1980. The Southern expansion into the Kootenays was an effort to increase the talent pool and to venture into an area that

British Columbia Junior Hockey League The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is an independent Canadian Junior ice hockey league with 21 teams in British Columbia and Alberta. It was classified as a Junior "A" league within the Hockey Canada framework, until it became independe ...

had yet to claim. The Colts would continue to dominate, even as a Junior "A" team, winning league championships in 1995, 1997, and 1998. In 1998, the

Edmonton Ice The Edmonton Ice were a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta. A Western Hockey League expansion team established in 1996, the team played only two seasons from 1996 to 1998 before relocating to Cranbrook, British Columbi ...

was failing and was sold and moved to Cranbrook. The Colts folded to make way for the Major Junior team.

Season-by-season standings

Playoffs

*1992 ''Lost semi-final'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated

Fernie Ghostriders The Fernie Ghostriders are a Junior ice hockey, Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay Internationa ...

''4-games-to-none'' :

Trail Smoke Eaters The Trail Smoke Eaters are a junior A ice hockey team from Trail, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). History The Smoke Eaters (aka ''Smokies'') have existed as both junior and senior teams si ...

defeated Cranbrook Colts ''4-games-to-3'' *1993 ''Lost final'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley Dynamiters ''4-games-to-2'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated

''4-games-to-2'' :

Williams Lake Mustangs The Williams Lake Mustangs are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Williams Lake, British Columbia. They are members of the Doug Birks Division of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. They play their home games at the Cariboo Me ...

defeated Cranbrook Colts ''3-games-to-2'' *1994 ''Lost semi-final'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated Creston Valley Thunder ''4-games-to-1'' : Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Cranbrook Colts ''4-games-to-1'' *1995 ''Won League, lost

Mowat Cup The Mowat Cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by John Mowat in 1927. Since 2024, it is awarded to the championship team from the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC). The BCHC is made up of the Kootenay Interna ...

'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley Dynamiters ''4-games-to-none'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated Creston Valley Thunder ''4-games-to-none'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated

Prince George Spruce Kings The Prince George Spruce Kings are a junior ice hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at the Kopar Memor ...

''4-games-to-2'' RMJHL CHAMPIONS :

Chilliwack Chiefs The Chilliwack Chiefs are a junior hockey team based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at the Chilliwack Coliseum which w ...

(

) defeated Cranbrook Colts ''3-games-to-none'' *1996 ''Lost quarter-final'' : Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Cranbrook Colts ''4-games-to-2'' *1997 ''Won League, lost

'' : Kimberley Dynamiters defeated Cranbrook Colts ''4-games-to-3'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated

Nelson Leafs The Nelson Leafs are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Nelson, 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 hom ...

''4-games-to-none'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated

''4-games-to-none'' RMJHL CHAMPIONS :

South Surrey Eagles The Surrey Eagles are a junior ice hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at South Surrey Arena. History New ...

(

) defeated Cranbrook Colts ''3-games-to-none'' *1998 ''Won League, lost

'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated

''4-games-to-1'' :Cranbrook Colts defeated Kimberley Dynamiters ''4-games-to-3'' RMJHL CHAMPIONS :

(

) defeated Cranbrook Colts ''3-games-to-none''

Notable alumni

* Jon Klemm *

Brad Lukowich Bradley J. Lukowich (born August 12, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and former assistant coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. He has won the Stanley Cup twice in his career, with the Dall ...

* Bob Murdoch

External links

BC Hockey
{{Cyclone Taylor Cranbrook, British Columbia Ice hockey teams in British Columbia 1971 establishments in British Columbia 1988 disestablishments in British Columbia Ice hockey clubs established in 1971 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1988