The Nelson Leafs will begin a new chapter in Junior A hockey, opening the inaugural British Columbia Hockey Conference season at home.
The BCHC has released its regular-season schedule, divisional alignment and playoff format for the 2026-27 campaign, the league’s first season featuring 22 member clubs.
Nelson opens its schedule Friday, Sept. 18, against the Kimberley Dynamiters at the Nelson Community Complex before hosting the Fernie Ghostriders on Sunday, Sept. 20. The Leafs also travel to Williams Lake on Friday, Sept. 25, for the Mustangs’ season opener.
The Leafs will compete in the six-team Kootenay Division alongside the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Columbia Valley Rockies, Fernie Ghostriders, Grand Forks Border Bruins and Kimberley Dynamiters.
The BCHC’s inaugural regular season begins Thursday, Sept. 10, when the Delta Ice Hawks visit the Richmond Sockeyes. Each team will play a 50-game schedule, including 25 home games and 25 road games, with 550 games scheduled across B.C.
The top four teams in each division will qualify for the 2027 BCHC playoffs.
Teams will remain within their divisions through the first two playoff rounds. The Kootenay Division champion will then face the Interior Division champion in the league semifinals, with the winners advancing to the 2027 Mowat Cup final.
The playoff schedule begins with the division semifinals on Friday, March 5, followed by the division finals on March 19, the league semifinals on April 2 and the Mowat Cup final on April 16.
Nelson Leafs’ first scheduled games
- Friday, Sept. 18: Kimberley Dynamiters at Nelson Leafs, 7 p.m., Nelson Community Complex
- Sunday, Sept. 20: Fernie Ghostriders at Nelson Leafs, 2 p.m., Nelson Community Complex
- Friday, Sept. 25: Nelson Leafs at Williams Lake Mustangs
