The Spokane Braves are a Junior "A"

Ice Hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...

team based in

Spokane Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Ca ...

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

, United States. They are members of the Neil Murdoch Division of the Kootenay Conference of 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 ...

(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 Rockets in 1972, 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.

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'' Records as of March 29, 2020. ; Notes # ''Stats for the 1990-91 season are only thru February 17, 1991. May not be complete''

Playoffs

Records as of March 29, 2020. ; 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 Scott Matthew Parker (born 13 October 1980) is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the head coach of Club Brugge in Belgium. Parker began his career at Charlton Athletic, and ...

KIJHL Awards and trophies

Top Defenceman *Brian Piper: 1987-88 *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 *Evan Witt: 2005-06 *Kurtis Redding: 2015-16 KIJHL AWARDS *Chase Wharton: 2009-10 Neil Murdoch Division Top Defenseman *Jesse Collins: 2009-10 Neil Murdoch Rookie of the Year *Brycen Fisher: 2012-13 Neil Murdoch Division Top Defenseman *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 *Luke Gallagher: 2016-17 Neil Murdoch Division Rookie of The Year *Gary Redding: 2017-18 Neil Murdoch Division Coach of The Year *Bear Hughes: 2018-19 Neil Murdoch Division Top Scorer *Bear Hughes: 2018-19 Neil Murdoch Division MVP *Bear Hughes: 2018-19 Neil Murdoch Division Rookie of the Year *Bear Hughes: 2018-19 KIJHL Rookie of The Year *Matt Klenk: 2019-20 Neil Murdoch Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year

References

External links

Official website
{{Cyclone Taylor Sports in Spokane, Washington Ice hockey teams in Washington (state) 1971 establishments in Washington (state) Ice hockey clubs established in 1971