Spokane Braves Explained

Team:Spokane Braves
Color:
  1. 00285D
Color Text:
  1. CE2029
City:Spokane, Washington
League:Kootenay International Junior Hockey League
Conference:Kootenay
Division:Neil Murdoch
Founded:–72 (WKHL)
Arena:Eagles Ice-A-Rena
Colors:Goal Red, Capital Silver, Union Blue, White
Coach: Mike Bay
Gm: Bob Tobiason
Website:www.spokanebraves.com/
Name1:Spokane Valley Kings (WKHL)
Dates1:1971-72
Name2:Spokane Rockets (KIJHL)
Dates2:1972-75
Name3:Spokane Flames (KIJHL)
Dates3:1975-85
Name4:Spokane Braves (KIJHL)
Dates4:1985-present
President: Bob Tobiason
Captain:Vacant

The Spokane Braves are a Junior 'A' Ice Hockey team based in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are members of the Neil Murdoch Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International 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.[1]

The club was founded as the Spokane Rockets in 1972, finally becoming the Braves in 1985.[2]

The WHL Spokane Chiefs drafted their first player from the Braves in the bantam draft in 2003.[3]

Mike Bay coached the team for 13 years in the 2000s and 2010s, and returned as coach in 2018.[4]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions in travel the Spokane Braves did not participate in the KIJHL. The 2023–24 season marked not only the return to the KIJHL but the 50th anniversary of participation in the KIJHL. The Braves returned to a league that had just been given recognition as being a Junior 'A' level hockey league.

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

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 3, 2024[5]

2023-24 44 1132 1 0 23 133 247 5 of 5, Neil Murdoch Division
19th of 20 - KIJHL		Did Not Qualify for Post Season
Notes
  1. Stats for the 1990–91 season are only thru February 17, 1991. May not be complete

Playoffs

Records as of March 29, 2020.[6] [7] [8]

Season1st Round2nd Round3rd RoundFinals
1999–00Did not qualify
2000–01Did not qualify
2001–02L, 0-4, Beaver Valley———
2002–03L, 2-4, Nelson———
2003–04W, 4-3, NelsonL, 0-4, Beaver Valley——
2004–05L, 1-4, Castlegar———
2005–06L, 0-4, Beaver Valley———
2006–07L, 0-4, Nelson———
2007–08Did not qualify
2008–09L, 1-4, Nelson———
2009–10W, 4-2, CastlegarL, 3-4, Nelson——
2010-11L, 1-4, Castlegar———
2011-12L, 1-4, Beaver Valley———
2012–13L, 1-4, Castlegar———
2013-14L, 2-4, Nelson———
2014–15 L, 1-4, Castlegar———
2015–16 Did not qualify
2016-17 Did not qualify
2017–18 Did not qualify
2018–19 L, 3-4, Nelson———
2019–20 L, 0-4, Nelson———
2020-21Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2021-22Did not participate
2022-23Did not participate
2023-24Did not qualify
Notes
  1. 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

KIJHL Awards and trophies

Top Defenceman

Rookie of the Year

Most Valuable Player

Top Scorer

KIJHL AWARDS

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Keeping it in the family. Chris. Derrick. September 11, 2013. The Spokesman-Review.
  2. Web site: Keeping it in the family. Chris. Derrick. September 11, 2013. The Spokesman-Review.
  3. Web site: Chiefs choose three from region. May 2, 2003.
  4. Web site: Brave Heart. Dan. Nelson. January 23, 2020.
  5. https://www.kijhl.ca/stats/standings?standingstype=division&context=overall&specialteams=false&season=56&sortkey=points&league=1
  6. KIJHL.ca, Playoff Bracket 2011–2012.
  7. http://www.kijhl.ca/leagues/standingsTotals.cfm?leagueID=5221&clientID=2223&order=PTS&showGameType=3 KIJHL.ca – Playoff Records.
  8. KIJHL.ca, Past KIJHL League Champions.
  9. Web site: 2019/20 KIJHL Individual Awards.

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