Hockey Canada is expanding the Western Canadian Development Model pilot project which will see changes to the KIJHL.
The first season of the pilot project brough eight changes to junior hockey in Western Canada including the KIJHL.
That involved development pathway flexibility for 15 and 16-year-olds, the choice to wear half-face protection for players 18 years of age or older and streamlined playing rules between Junior A leagues and the WHL.
“The KIJHL’s participation in the Western Canadian Development Model has created exciting new opportunities for our league and member clubs to help develop players for advancement to the Western Hockey League,” said Commissioner Jeff Dubois.
There will be five additional changes this upcoming KIJHL season.
Registered U.S.-born players on a team’s active roster will decrease from six to five.
Any 16 and 17-year-old U.S. born players who have been drafted, listed or signed by a WHL team are eligible to Junior A teams.
Each team can have one 16 or 17-year-old player whose parent(s) reside outside of their province or region, if the player has been drafted, listed or signed by a WHL team.
Out-of-province players can affiliate for Junior A teams if they participate in the Canadian Sport School Hockey
League, but no more than eight out-of-province players may be registered to the active roster.
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