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Spokane Braves

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(Redirected from Spokane Rockets)
Spokane Braves
CitySpokane, Washington
LeagueKootenay International Junior Hockey League
ConferenceKootenay
DivisionNeil Murdoch
Founded1971 (1971)–72 (WKHL)
Home arenaEagles Ice-A-Rena
ColorsGoal Red, Capital Silver, Union Blue, White
       
PresidentUnited States Bob Tobiason
General managerUnited States Bob Tobiason
Head coachUnited States Mike Bay
CaptainVacant
Websitewww.spokanebraves.com/
Franchise history
1971-72Spokane Valley Kings (WKHL)
1972-75Spokane Rockets (KIJHL)
1975-85Spokane Flames (KIJHL)
1985-presentSpokane Braves (KIJHL)

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

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Despite their long history in the KIJHL, the Braves have never won the league championship.[when?] 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.[1]

The WHL Spokane Chiefs drafted their first player from the Braves in the bantam draft in 2003.[2]

Mike Bay coached the team for 13 years in the 2000s and 2010s, and returned as coach in 2018.[3]

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

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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

Season Results from 2024 return to current season

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[4]

2023-24 44 11 32 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

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Records as of March 29, 2020.[5][6][7]

Season 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals
1999–00 Did not qualify
2000–01 Did not qualify
2001–02 L, 0-4, Beaver Valley
2002–03 L, 2-4, Nelson
2003–04 W, 4-3, Nelson L, 0-4, Beaver Valley
2004–05 L, 1-4, Castlegar
2005–06 L, 0-4, Beaver Valley
2006–07 L, 0-4, Nelson
2007–08 Did not qualify
2008–09 L, 1-4, Nelson
2009–10 W, 4-2, Castlegar L, 3-4, Nelson
2010-11 L, 1-4, Castlegar
2011-12 L, 1-4, Beaver Valley
2012–13 L, 1-4, Castlegar
2013-14 L, 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
2020-21 Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2021-22 Did not participate
2022-23 Did not participate
2023-24 Did 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

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KIJHL Awards and trophies

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References

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  1. ^ a b Derrick, Chris (September 11, 2013). "Keeping it in the family". The Spokesman-Review.
  2. ^ "Chiefs choose three from region". May 2, 2003.
  3. ^ Nelson, Dan (January 23, 2020). "Brave Heart".
  4. ^ "KIJHL - Kootenay International Junior Hockey League".
  5. ^ KIJHL.ca, Playoff Bracket 2011–2012. Archived 2012-05-05 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ KIJHL.ca – Playoff Records.
  7. ^ KIJHL.ca, Past KIJHL League Champions.
  8. ^ "2019/20 KIJHL Individual Awards".
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