I know it's 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5 format.

Question is, do the division winners earn the top 3 seedings? or is it just best record regardless of division?

Would seem to me points should determine the rankings,not sure the divisions are that great a thing with 3. East- West could ease alot of travel come playoff time. Don't quite understand why top 2 in each division qualify either. Shouldn't matter this year but you could potentially have a team with alot more points than another miss out due to divisions. Top team okay, not top 2. The schedule this year has been much better,but probably will get a few tweaks to even be better for next year. Lots of important games coming up down the stretch with huge playoff implications. Now if we only knew the Format.

I haven't heard if there are any Double "A" teams down south or elsewhere outside the CIHL; So with Kitimat Hosting the COY cup, does this mean we get CIHL PLAYOFFS to determine the CIHL Champion, and then we have the coy cup with top 4 CIHL teams AGAIN to determine another Champion?

So how does entry into the Coy work this year? Lets say Kitimat looses in the CIHL PLAYOFFS but as the host they are in the Coy automatically, then its what the two top teams playing for the CIHL championship. So who qualifies for the fourth spot?

BC Amatuer needs to give their heads a shake and work with helping the teams in the CIHL as an example for the rest of the Province. There are some great senior men's hockey towns outside the CIHL that need encouraging to put up a team, and maybe some help.

There are no other AA teams in the province other than Dawson Creek whoes NPHL playoffs conflict with the Coy Cup.

End result, the Coy Cup tournament will feature 4 CIHL teams. Seems completely redundant to me. Kinda like having the NHL playdown for the Stanley Cup, then taking the top 4 teams and playing down again for a North American championship.

Why not just award both the League trophy and the Coy Cup to the winner of the CIHL playoffs and save a whole lot of time and money?

Guess it does give a couple teams a second opportunity to win something, I suppose.

Gotta love Hockey BC and their lack of support for Senior Hockey. I once told the former Senior Hockey head, (who shall remain nameless on this post), that this province need a Single A championship trophy. Then smaller towns like Hazelton, (and perhaps some new teams - Valemont, McBride, Clearwater, etc), could challenge for a provincial championship on a more equitable lever. James, (whoops...there's that name), thought it was a dumb idea and that there was already a Single A championship. Well there is, but only for some form of collegiate/Rec A level, (does anybody even know the trophy name?)

Having an additional level of Senior hockey championship, (as does every other Western Canadian province), would help to get more teams established in this province, could allow for AA and A affiliation, and hopefuly establish a couple more Senior hockey leagues in this province, who then may have a AA team or two that could join that league, (aka The Island, the Kootenays). Then we could have a real Provincial Coy Cup tournament that means something.

It's no wonder James, (there's that name again) is no longer the Senior hockey head honcho.

(Geeze I told myself I'd stop posting on this dam forum....bad,bad,bad)

And thanks bcseniorhockeynews...keep posting.... Like reading the stuff you dig up...

So another question then? Which is more important the Provincial championship or the CIHL Championship? and is there a difference if the same teams from the same league are playing?

(not trying to discourage the Coy I would love to see a tournament between the top four teams)

but two championships one league?

I completely disagree that the lack of other Provincial participants should result in the CIHL champions being awarded the Coy Cup by default. This is even more ridiculous when its done as a last minute resolve. If things are done right, BC Hockey would select the host community for the Coy in late August. In order for the Coy committee to be successful they then have to start their work right away as there are some very significant costs associated with hosting. It would be totally unreasonable to the host community to cancel the Coy in the 11th hour just because no teams from outside the CIHL register to come. Regardless of the fact the CIHL championship will likely have some of the same teams involved the Coy is a different event in every way. The CIHL continues to build a strong, viable League where the rest of the Province has failed. The Coy Cup and what it represents is 100 years old this year and if we open the door to let it fall apart it probably will. We need to preserve this special event and encourage the rest to build.
Having watched Kitimat, Smithers, Quesnel and Williams Lake this season as well as the Coy last season I can tell you it`s great hockey and it would make for a great tournament even if the CIHL was the only League represented. After all, we`re only talking about one team from outside not being there.
If BC Hockey is listening, make your position clear to the League now, don`t wait until all the work is done. I`m sure if you ask Kitimat they want to host the Coy regardless of which teams make it. The competition is healthy for our League.

...but perhaps for different reasons, mostly to do with events of the past several seasons.

The Provincial Championship Coy Cup is one thing and the CIHL championship is another.

The Kitimat Ice Demons were not terribly satisfied with the convenient decision by Bob James to scrap the Coy Cup in Terrace and just award the championship to the CIHL winners, because the Rossland team dropped out at the last minute.

The Coy Cup is something that teams get to plan for -- and they are able under the rules to make a couple of additions, if available and signed for that purpose at the right time.

The real difference is the schedule of a five day tourney -- when compared to the frantic and need-to-travel nature of CIHL playoffs, semis and finals, which forces teams to make late travel arrangements and stresses coaches and players.

I will use the Ice Demons as an example (yeah I hear you Zooie!) but for just for argument's sake -- we did come back hard, but late in a season we started off horribly.

We were counted out through the playoffs , but kept winning ad getting through -- but because of the same problems many teams are experiencing this season, did not have our top team to go to the finals in Williams Lake, - a three day trip any time we go.

Work mostly and injuries were largely to blame -- but we managed to forced a game three, and even shorthanded, without our sick coach, had a significant lead, but couldn't hold it...and, all credit to the Stamps, they were again winners after a spectacular comeback.

Two weeks later, with everybody healed, (and ours and their additions in place) and with one outside team, Powell River, defending the Coy Cup, got into a great competition that stretched every team involved to the limit and provided great entertainment for fans. So, when the final was Demons v Stamps again, I never heard any real complaints that the provincial championship was the same as the CIHL title series.The result, however, was different ...

The fact is, with four teams, no matter if they are all CIHL or involve teams from other areas, the round robin can result in the semis and the finals having any combination of teams.

Senior hockey is having a hard time competing with the AHL, the WHL and the BCJHL and its many junior B locations across the lower mainland, Kootenays and Okanagan.

The north has senior hockey and enjoys it as a viable alternative and we are well entitled to a separate and legitimate Coy Cup provincial AA championship competition that we work hard for every season.

So let's not hear any more nonsense about same league, two championships. There's a big difference.

I would hardly call it nonsense. It's a legitimate concern. The optics of having esentially the same 4 teams that played down for the league championship play yet again for the provincial championship is not good. (Looks idiotic in my opinion).

I don't blame our league for this, but the failure of Hockey BC to promote Senior hockey in British Columbia, and to help smaller communities establish some form of Senior hockey, (as I suggested before, perhaps at the Single A level to begin with).

And yes there are a lot of Junior level teams in this province, but so is there in Alberta, and that province still is able to generate 5 to 6 Senior hockey leagues. Whatever they are doing in Alberta to promote Senior hockey should be done in BC.

With that said, I wish Kitimat all the best with the 2012 Coy Cup.

...we have to make the best of our current reality.

The CIHL does not own the Coy Cup -- or run the provincial championship...

Have been browsing this chat forum in regard to Senior Hockey..Things are healthy regarding AA hockey in your northern communities..Things are not healthy in regard to Senior AA hockey in LM,and Okanagan areas...the reason is simple and someone touched on it---too much Junior hockey and no ice time..Dawson Creek may enter Coy Cup in another year or so but have to decide to either dedicate to playing in Coy Cup or playing in Alberta..Powell River has 2 teams, a AA and AAA team with their AAA team committing to Savage Cup and hosting..highly unlikely to enter Coy Cup also as it being very expensive...These areas are diluted with Junior Hockey and with minor hockey taking most ice time, the Senior teams are squeezed out..Don't go blaming BC Hockey and them not promoting Senior hockey..The websites there,players in those areas play in commercial leagues at 10PM at night or later..Vancouver Island alone has 13 Junior teams--how many are here in the north with teams competing against Junior teams..There is the BCIHL which is classified as Senior C with top caliber ex Juniors and veteran college players competing in a very good league..They work closely with the Senior Director of BC Hockey in making it very successful..This same guy works with JC Brown and CIHL..The Coy Cup is prestigious and if its all CIHL teams competing, so be it--it will be exciting and Kitimat will put on a great show..So quit being so negative ..Put your negative thoughts into positive ones and quit blaming others as being the reason for lack of Senior Hockey in other areas..I think the CIHL is the premier league for Senior Hockey whereas in past years going back the LM ,OK and Island were once hockey hotbeds until JR. A and Jr. B as well as WHL stepped in

Forgive me for saying this, but you guys are such dinosaurs in your thinking. God forbid we try something a little different. You don't run a business by saying "this is the way it's always been done", and we shouldn't run Senior hockey by that moto as well. Both will die a slow death in the end. Negative? Perhaps, but whose fault is that with this kind of thinking?

The league playoffs are also Hockey BC's way of determining who will enter the Coy Cup tournament. So therefore the two are already connected at the hip. For instance, if this province had 3 senior leagues, then we would have a Provincial tournament featuring 3 league champs plus a host.

However that is not the case this year, and because of that the CIHL and Hockey BC had a great marketing opportunity presented right in front of their faces. An opportunity to allow the league champion to also be declared the Coy Cup champion. That would have given fans in each playoff bound community more interest in the games. Perhaps as a league, we could have allowed all players signed at the carding deadline to be able to participate in the playoffs, (irregardless of the 5 game rule). That would again have make the games more interesting with several new players.

Oh I can hear it now! We can't do that, we can't do that. That's not the way it's done. It seems we run this league like a socialist utopia. All teams must be equal and heaven forbid we allow some team to card a stud player by the deadline and then allow him into the playoffs. Might make that team so much better and they will beat up on us.

As for no other areas in the province for senior teams? How about Sechelt, Port Hardy, Valemount, McBride, Clearwater, Barrier, 100 Mile House, Mackenzie, Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd, Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Clinton, Lytton, Lilloet and a whole assortment of other smaller communities across this province. Yes it would take leg work and elbow grease to meet with reps from various communities and get things on the go. But isn't that why we send in our monies every year to Hockey BC.

All I'm saying is it looks ridiculous to run a playoff tournament to declare a league champion. And then based on Hockey BC rules pick the top 3 from this league plus Kitimat and then do it all over again. So we ask players to take a week off work and away from their families, spend truckloads of money, just so we can do things the way they have been done for ages. Had there been at least one other provincial rep that expressed interested in attending the Coy Cup, then I would say swing away and have the tournament. However that is not the case, so why not think outside the box for 2012 and try something a little different. I'm sure Hockey BC could be amicable about this.

Of course this is all a moot point. The Coy Cup tournament has been awarded and I'm sure monies already spent in preparation. And yes I know, the Coy Cup does not belong to the CIHL, (well of course not). I just think it would have been a great opportunity to try to do something different to both promote the league, the Coy Cup and Senior hockey that much more in our area of the province. I will leave the promotion, (or lack thereof) of Senior hockey in the rest of our province to Hockey BC.

I'm not going to convince anyone with these arguments, and neither will your arguments convince me otherwise. So we agree to disagree. Back to the games.

Spiderman said "There is the BCIHL which is classified as Senior C with top caliber ex Juniors and veteran college players competing in a very good league".It sounds like they could give our so called AA teams a run for their money.

DM-A few observations on some of your comments you are being so outspoken about.Yes alta. does have six leagues,but there provincials AA-A are combined.8 team tourney,win your first your on the AA side,lose 1st and you go to A side.So it is not 2 different classifications.
Now my beloved Sask. is a whole different story.You want to enter provincials you declare by DEC 1 just like every other province.Keep in mind there are 14 leagues with 120-130 teams.Last year they had 1 AAA - 25 A -14 B -15 C -21 D for a total of 76 teams entered in provincials.The A teams play best of 3, the others 2 game total points.Now it is pretty tough to compare this to us,but my point would be,provincials there are totally seperate from league play.And yes you could have the same teams play 1 week in the league final and then the next in prov. playoffs.Not such a bad thing as you seem to suggest.I thought last years Coy was awesome hockey and don't think the dynamics change much for this year even if Powell River or Dawson Creek do not declare by today. I think we have at least 4 CIHL teams that could win the Coy or the league, but can they win both? It is a little different dynamic with possibly 5 games in 5 nights and some teams with additions.All Cihl teams added players for the coy and it only made the competition better.Now as far as you suggesting to do that for the playoffs,i totally disagree.That is one thing that will kill teams for sure and that is not what league play is about.He with the most money wins.
I agree SR. hockey in BC is in a sad state of affairs but i don't think bchockey is totally to blame. Do you really think all the towns you mention have a will to do it? Ithink not.Anyways we should know in a few days the Coy format.
ANybody wishing to check Sask. senior hockey,google-wicked deadly.

I wont get to deep or detailed on what the canucks want ,but I will say they the organiztion and the players would love to play for a provincial title , there league is very difficult and does come first . Yes the canucks for the last 2 years have also talked about registering through Alberta so if they win there league they could represent at the Alberta provincials , much better schedule, or timming . There are a couple reasons why the team has not yet done this . As for compition if the canucks stay in Bc its 1 league and possible Powel River , if they go to Alberta its 6 Leagues and 40 teams . The NPHL usally is at the top or very close to winning each year , no matter who goes from there league . But a provinical title in BC would be nice for the team none the less.
I know i will start a big debat, but the canuks since they came back the past 2 years and this seaon , would be very tough for your league to beat , playing against 2 triple AAA teams ,and Spirt river and GP who both are Alberta double AA champs , has them playing very competitve hockey all season . I have watched games in your league and have never saw the same level as there league. So for me provinicals are important , but i belive the titles would be alot different in BC if they the canucks would have been playing or participating on the BC side .
That last part is my own feelings and really should be in another post , but its alot of typing and I am leaving it here. .

I should have added that in alberta some of its teams also wanted a true single A provincial tournment , to many teams cant compeat with the top double AA clubs. And on another note The triple AAA teams in Alberta have a playoff for there league and also a playoff for there provinicals with most years being the same teams. I belive there should always be a provinicial tourny, even if only 1 league is playing. They are different.

Maybe DC should take a one year leave from their league playoffs to compete in the Coy. Once they've won it, move on and try Alberta. I know you guys have a strong team, but come prove your the best in BC. It's easy to say it.

I agree the Coy and playoffs are very different. Having won the playoffs the last two years, and the Coy the year before that, I can honestly say the feeling doesn't compare. The playoffs matter, but the coy is the real deal. Hopefully we'll be there this year, it's an awesome tournament.

Rusty , your right,its really easy to type it on here then do it , I get that, and had trouble in typing it , but thats my opion and only mine and theres no easy way to say it with out ruffling people the wrong way , it was not intended to do that. As for missing playoffs ,that would never fly . You play in the league , you go for the champinship. The NPHL is season # 58 , canucks on 62 , going for that trophy in your league as to be all you shoot for then the rest is gravy. The CIHL is heading in the right direction , if no other teams out side your league come that doesnt take away from the winner , they deserve to be that years provincial champ , and what i think dosent matter.

Your not ruffling my feathers. I honestly want you guys to be there. The tournament is at it's best when more then one area of the province are represented. It's also more rewarding to qualify for the tournament when you have to win 2 or 3 rounds and beat quality teams to get there. As it stands now teams will only have to win their first round matchup to qualify.