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The Summerland Jets Hockey Club is a junior ice hockey club and franchise of the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) based in Summerland, British Columbia. The Jets initially joined the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) as an expansion franchise for the 2026–27 season, before joining the BCHC in April 2026 as part of BC Hockey‘s restructuring of Junior A in British Columbia. It is owned and operated by the community-led Summerland Jr. B Hockey Society. The team will play out of the 800-seat Summerland Arena which opened in 1976.[1]

History

In the 1980s, Summerland was home to the Summerland Buckaroos, a Junior A team in the British Columbia Hockey League that relocated from Kelowna. The Buckaroos ceased operations in 1988 following three straight losing seasons.[2]

In 2001, the Summerland Sting began playing in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). In 2009, the team moved to Penticton to become the Penticton Lakers.[3] The team has since relocated to 100 Mile House and become the 100 Mile House Wranglers.[4]

Two seasons later, in 2011–12, the KIJHL returned to Summerland.[5][6] The Summerland Steam played in the KIJHL for 12 seasons before being relocated to Williams Lake and becoming the Williams Lake Mustangs in 2024.[4][6]

In October 2025, the District of Summerland council endorsed a proposal to bring junior hockey back to the community.[7]

On February 12, 2026, the KIJHL announced that it would once again return to Summerland, starting in 2026–27.[8] On March 18, 2026, it was announced that the new team would be called the Summerland Jets, taking its name from the existing minor hockey association that has been in the community since the 1980s.[9] This coincided with the KIJHL and BC Hockey‘s restructuring of Junior A hockey in British Columbia. On April 22, 2026, the KIJHL announced that 14 of its member clubs, including the Summerland Jets, would be joining the new British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) for 2026–27.[10]

On April 22, 2026, the Jets announced that Robert Dirk would be the team’s first head coach.[11]

References

  1. ^ Arendt, John (27 March 2026). “Summerland recreation facilities mark 50 years”. Summerland Review. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  2. ^ “60th Anniversary Spotlight: 1980s”. bchl.ca. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  3. ^ “BC Daily Buzz – Summerland Sting Relocate To Penticton”. bcdailybuzz.com. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  4. ^ a b “Summerland Steam franchise moving to Williams Lake”. Penticton Herald. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  5. ^ “League History”. kijhl.ca. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  6. ^ a b “Summerland Steam sold, relocating to Williams Lake”. Vernon Morning Star. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  7. ^ Lacey, Keith (13 October 2026). “Summerland Steam will be returning to KIJHL”. castanet.net. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  8. ^ “KIJHL returning to Summerland for 2026-27 season”. kijhl.ca. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  9. ^ Arendt, John (18 March 2026). “New Summerland junior hockey team to use Jets name”. Penticton Western News. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  10. ^ “BCHC launches as sanctioned Junior A league”. kijhl.ca. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  11. ^ “Jets name Robert Dirk as its first head coach”. kijhl.ca. 22 April 2026. Retrieved 23 April 2026.

Sources