Cohorts for Phase 1 of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season were revealed on Tuesday.
The Kamloops Storm, Chase Heat and North Okanagan Knights are in a three-team cohort.
In order to provide an equitable travel schedule and maximize the number of potential opponents, the season will be split into two phases for clubs participating in four-team cohorts and three phases for clubs in three-team cohorts.
KIJHL teams will play 12 games each during Phase 1, which will begin on Nov. 13 and conclude on Dec. 19.
The league’s other three-team cohorts are Kelowna, Princeton and Summerland, and Golden, Revelstoke and Sicamous.
There are a pair of four-team cohorts — Columbia Valley, Creston Valley, Fernie and Kimberley, and Castlegar, Grand Forks, Nelson and Osoyoos.
Phase 2 cohorts will begin play on Jan. 2, following the league’s 14-day Christmas break.
For clubs in four-team cohorts, Phase 2 will run through the remainder of the regular season and include a total of 18 games (six against each opponent).
Phase 2 for three-team cohorts will run through Jan. 23 and include eight regular season games (four against each opponent).
Clubs in three-team cohorts will break for 14 days before Phase 3, which is slated to begin on Feb. 5. The four-week phase will see each club play eight games, four each against two opponents.
Teams in three-team cohorts will play two additional games against a regional opponent to complete the 30-game regular season schedule.
The league will announce its playoff structure at a later date.
