The Grand Forks Border Bruins are a junior ice hockey team based in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada. They are set to compete in the Kootenay Division in the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) beginning in the 2026–27 season after playing in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). They play their home games at the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena.

History The Border Bruins joined the KIJHL in 1969.

Since 2021, the Border Bruins have been owned by Mark Szynkaruk, a local physician in the community of Grand Forks.

On April 28, 2025, the Border Bruins became the first team in KIJHL history to win the Presidents Cup, Kootenay Conference, Teck Cup, and Mowat Cup in a single playoff run after a 9–6 victory over the Ridge Meadows Flames.

On April 20, 2026, the Border Bruins were named as one of 22 teams joining the BCHC, leaving the KIJHL with the remaining 12 teams.

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Records as of April 28, 2025.KIJHL.ca, Final 2013-14 regular season standings.

Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs 1969–70 32 1 31 0 ― 2 67 352 5th, KHL 1970–71 30 9 21 0 ― 18 4th, WKHL 1971–72 32 9 23 0 ― 18 143 247 5th, WKHL 1972–73 Did not participate 1973–74 30 14 16 0 ― 28 163 206 1st, West Lost in Finals (Colts) 1974–75 34 14 20 0 ― 28 187 201 3rd, West 1975–76 34 11 23 0 ― 22 152 190 4th, West 1976–77 44 13 31 0 ― 26 178 277 5th, West 1977–78 42 12 29 1 ― 25 172 243 5th, West 1978–79 40 15 25 0 ― 30 203 226 3rd, West 1979–80 40 31 9 0 ― 62 332 182 1st, West 1980–81 40 9 30 1 ― 19 216 340 5th, West 1981–82 42 7 34 1 ― 15 193 368 6th, West 1982–83 42 9 32 1 ― 19 210 353 6th, West 1983–84 40 16 24 0 ― 32 227 273 5th, West 1984–85 40 4 36 0 ― 8 199 401 7th, West 1985–86 42 20 22 0 ― 40 247 256 3rd, West 1986–87 Did not participate 1987–88 42 3 38 1 ― 7 148 436 5th, West 1988–89 45 6 39 0 ― 12 179 389 6th, West 1989–90 40 22 18 0 ― 44 227 195 3rd, West 1990–91 30 22 7 1 ― 45 198 169 4th, West 1991–92 38 20 16 2 ― 42 208 188 3rd, West 1992–93 42 37 5 0 ― 74 336 115 1st, West 1993–94 40 13 25 2 ― 28 192 296 5th, West 1994–95 44 18 26 ― 0 36 191 231 3rd, West 1995–96 42 23 19 0 ― 46 206 170 3rd, West 1996–97 41 22 18 0 ― 45 188 174 3rd, Neil Murdoch 1997–98 50 12 37 1 ― 25 182 282 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 1998–99 50 11 36 3 ― 25 166 241 6th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 1999–2000 46 18 25 3 ― 39 232 241 6th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2000–01 58 9 44 3 2 23 171 347 7th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2001–02 50 10 35 2 3 25 148 269 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2002–03 50 15 29 3 2 35 148 219 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2003–04 50 8 32 6 4 26 128 223 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2004–05 50 6 42 0 2 14 128 324 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2005–06 50 4 40 2 4 14 135 302 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2006–07 52 13 32 ― 7 33 156 257 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2007–08 52 18 29 ― 5 41 164 239 4th, Neil Murdoch: West Did not qualify 2008–09 52 11 39 ― 2 24 132 278 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2009–10 50 6 42 1 1 14 119 284 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2010–11 50 8 41 0 1 17 145 267 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2011–12 52 1 49 0 2 4 106 455 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2012–13 52 8 40 1 3 20 130 273 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2013–14 52 16 32 2 2 36 186 250 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2014–15 52 8 40 1 3 20 129 293 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2015–16 52 23 24 0 5 51 145 184 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division finals, 1–4 (Nitehawks) 2016–17 47 20 21 3 3 46 173 194 4th, Neil Murdoch Lost division semifinals, 1–4 (Nitehawks) 2017–18 47 15 27 2 2 35 131 177 4th, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 1–4 (Leafs) 2018–19 49 21 25 1 2 45 184 209 3rd, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinals, 0–4 (Nitehawks) 2019–20 49 13 31 1 4 31 143 233 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2020–21 3 0 3 0 0 0 5 19 Remaining season cancelled due to COVID-19 2021–22 42 5 34 1 2 13 79 178 5th, Neil Murdoch Did not qualify 2022–23 44 25 16 — 3 53 146 133 1st, Neil Murdoch Lost in division semifinal, 1–4 (Thunder Cats) 2023–24 44 28 11 3 2 61 79 178 2nd, Neil Murdoch Won division semifinal, 4–1 (Leafs)Lost in division finals, 2–4 (Nitehawks) 2024–25 44 33 6 4 1 71 224 117 1st, Neil MurdochWon division semifinal 4–0 (Castlegar Rebels)Won division finals 4–0 (Nitehawks)Won conference finals 4–1 (Kimberley Dynamiters}Won league finals 4–0 (Revelstoke Grizzlies}Advance to Provincial Jr A ChampionshipsWon Mowat Cup 4–1 (Ridge Meadows Flames])

Playoffs KIJHL.ca, Current playoff bracket. KIJHL.ca, League champions.

Season1st Round2nd Round3rd RoundFinals1997–98Did not qualify1998–99Did not qualify1999–00Did not qualify2000–01Did not qualify2001–02Did not qualify2002–03Did not qualify2003–04Did not qualify2004–05Did not qualify2005–06Did not qualify2006–07Did not qualify2007–08Did not qualify2008–09Did not qualify2009–10Did not qualify2010-11Did not qualify2011–12Did not qualify2012–13Did not qualify2013–14Did not qualify2014–15Did not qualify2015–16W, 4–2, CastlegarL, 1–4, Beaver Valley——2016–17L, 0–4, Beaver Valley———2017–18L, 3—4 Nelson———2018–19L, 0–4 Beaver Valley———2019–20Did not qualify2020–21Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic2021–22Did not qualify2022–23L, 1–4, Creston Valley———2023–24W, 4–1, NelsonL, 2–4, Beaver Valley——2024–25W, 4–0, CastlegarW, 4–0, Beaver ValleyW, 4–1, Kimberley DynamitersW, 4–0, Revelstoke Grizzlies

British Columbia Jr A provincial championships

Season Record Standing Result 2024–25 Won, 9–6, Ridge Meadows Flames 3–1–0 Champions

NHL alumni List of team alumni to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):

Ron Areshenkoff Alan Kerr Glenn Merkosky Steve Passmore Rudy Poeschek Craig Redmond Kevin Sawyer

Awards and trophies List of awards:

Regular Season Neil Murdoch Division champions 2022–23 2024–25

Presidents Cup champions 2024–25

Kootenay Conference champions 2024–25

KIJHL champions 2024–25

Mowat Cup champions 2024–25

Broadcast of the Year Kevin Mckinnon PxP, Cody Thate CC, Les Johnson CO: 2021–22 Kevin Mckinnon PxP, Cody Thate CC, Les Johnson CO: 2022–23 Kevin Mckinnon PxP, Cody Thate CC, Les Johnson CO, Bronwen Bird SC: 2023–24

Coach of the Year Dave Hnatiuk 2022–23 (Neil Murdoch Div) Dave Hnatiuk 2024–25

Most sportsmanlike player Neil Eisenhut 1984–85 Craig Materi 2004–05 Chad Bates 2022–23 (Neil Murdoch Division)

Most popular player Kelly English (1994–95)

Most valuable player Peter Smith (2008–09) Levi Astill (2024–25)

Top scorer Spencer Horning (2022–23, Neil Murdoch Div — 47 Points) Levi Astill (2024–25, 91 points)

Rookie of the Year Russel Kosec (2022–23, Neil Murdoch Div — 27 points) Brandon Gray (2024–25, 53 points)

Top defenceman Russel Kosec (2024–25, 42 points)

Most paluable player (playoffs) Tyler Burke (2024–25, 38 points in 21 games)

References

External links Grand Forks Border Bruins Official website