Rocky Mountain Challenge to settle bragging rights between B.C. and Alberta teams

The format for the first — and likely last — Rocky Mountain Challenge has been announced by the BC Hockey League.

The event will see the Alberta and B.C. playoff champions playing in a best-of-three series from May 31 to June 2 with all three games hosted by the Alberta team.

The series will mark the official end of the 2023-24 BCHL season.

in February 2024, the Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Blackfalds Bulldogs, Spruce Grove Saints and Sherwood Park Crusaders left the Alberta Junior League to join the BCHL which became an independent league after leaving Hockey Canada in June 2023.

“With the addition of the five teams from Alberta midseason and having them play a separate schedule from our B.C. teams, this felt like the perfect way to introduce competition between the two provinces, while giving the athletes a memorable event to cap off 2023-24,” BCHL Commissioner Steven Cocker said.

Previously, the BCHL announced the playoff format for the Alberta Division and provided a refresher on the B.C. postseason format.

The B.C. portion of the Rogers BCHL Playoffs begin on Friday, April 5, while the Alberta postseason schedule starts on Wednesday, April 10.

The Rocky Mountain Challenge will be a one-off event with the Alberta teams being fully integrated next season and competing solely for the BCHL championship.