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 on the west side of the Kootenay River at its confluence with the St. Mary River (British Columbia), St. Mary's River. It is the largest urban centre in the region known as the ...

. 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 "B" Ice Hockey league in British Columbia, Canada sanctioned by Hockey Canada. The winner of the Teck Cup competes with the champions of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJ ...

. 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 Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league in British Columbia. :Peace Junior B Hockey League 19xx–1975 :Peace-Cariboo Junior Hockey League 1975–1991 :Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League 1991–1999 ...

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 major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia, and competed in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team played its home games at Western Financial Place. The franchise wa ...

, a major junior team in the

Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major 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 h ...

. The Ice relocated to

Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...

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

BCHL The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada and BC Hockey. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 18 teams. From 1993 to 2021, the league was a member of the Can ...

for the

2020-21 BCHL season The hyphen-minus is the most commonly used type of hyphen, widely used in digital documents. It is the only character that looks like a minus sign or a dash in many character sets such as ASCII or on most keyboards, so it is also used as such. ...

, as the

Cranbrook Bucks The Cranbrook Bucks are a junior "A" 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. ...

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 B, C, D, Junior B ice hockey leagues, as well as a hos ...

: 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 (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

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 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 one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

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 a Junior A ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada and BC Hockey. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 18 teams. From 1993 to 2021, the league was a member of the Cana ...

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 junior ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, that played two seasons in the Western Hockey League from 1996 to 1998. History The WHL expanded to Edmonton in 1996, and the Ice began play at the Northlands Agri ...

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 'B' ice hockey team based in Fernie, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Ghostri ...

''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. History The Smoke Eaters (aka ''Smokies'') have existed as both junior and senior teams since th ...

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 was a Junior ice hockey team from Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada. They are former members of the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League. History The Williams Lake Mustangs were founded in 1978 as members of the Pe ...

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 is emblematic of the Junior "A" ice hockey Championship of British Columbia (BC). The winner of the Mowat Cup historically moved on to play the winner of Alberta's Carling O'Keefe Cup for the Doyle Cup, signifying the Canadian Pacif ...

'' :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 "A" ice hockey team based in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Mainland Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at Kopar Memo ...

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

Chilliwack Chiefs The Chilliwack Chiefs are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Mainland Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at Chilliwack Coliseum wh ...

(

) 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 "B" 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 home ...

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

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

South Surrey Eagles The Surrey Eagles are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Mainland 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 Jonathan Darryl Klemm (born January 8, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League. , he is an associate coach for the Winnipeg Ice of the Western Hockey League, formerly known as the Koo ...

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 Da ...

* 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