Merritt Centennials open 2026-27 BCHC season at home against Princeton Sept 18

The newly created British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) has announced their 2026-27 regular season schedule and the Merritt Centennials are in the thick of things with two big matchups on opening weekend.

The newly formed league made up of 22 teams including 14 from the former Kootenay International Hockey League (KIJHL) and eight more from the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) which will operate as a new Junior “A” league.

The Merritt Centennials who joined the KIJHL in 2024-25 after more than 50 seasons in the BCHL,  will now make up part of the Interior Division with the Revelstoke Grizzlies, Kamloops Storm, Quesnel River Rush, and Williams Lake Mustangs.

The Centennials will open the 2026-27 season on Friday , September 18 at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena (NVMA) when they entertain former division rival Princeton Posse at 7:00 p.m.

The Posse and Cents were divisional opponents in the Bill Ohlhausen  Division of the KIJHL, however this season the Posse have moved to the Valley Division with Osoyoos Coyotes (KIJHL) along with the Chilliwack Jets (PCHL), Langley Trappers (PCHL) and the expansion Summerland Jets.

The Centennials will round out the opening weekend of action with another home ice affair when the Columbia Valley Rockies visit the NVMA for a 7:00 p.m. game.

The Centennials full schedule of games can be found on the BCHC website or here.