The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is proud to announce the remaining five student-athletes selected to receive league bursaries for the 2025-26 season. Each bursary is valued at $1,000 and will be applied towards post-secondary studies.

Next are the recipients from the Kootenay Conference.

Levi Astill – Grand Forks Border Bruins

The Edmonton native graduated from St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School in 2023 and completed a business administration course through Athabasca University. Astill will attend Concordia University of Edmonton to study business while playing for the Thunder. He also has an interest in pursuing law.

Astill spent his entire KIJHL career with the Border Bruins, playing more than 160 games, including playoffs. Last season, he was named the KIJHL’s Most Valuable Player before helping the Border Bruins capture the KIJHL Teck Cup and Mowat Cup championships. Astill also finished as the league’s Top Scorer for a second straight season.

With the Border Bruins, he volunteered with several community initiatives, including the Border Bruins Cubs Program (2023-25), the Border Bruins Reading Program with Dr. D. A. Perley kindergarten students, Halloween night security, the Border Bruins skating program with kindergarten students, the Terry Fox Run, Rock Creek Fall Fair security and the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign.

Carter Hensch – Columbia Valley Rockies

The Grande Prairie, Alta., native graduated from Charles Spencer High School in 2022 and will attend the University of Alberta to study pharmacology to become a pharmacist.

Hensch played 100 career regular season games with the Kimberley Dynamiters (33) and Rockies (67), recording 69 points. He also appeared in 13 playoff games and collected two points. With the Dynamiters, he earned the Most Sportsmanlike Player award, while this season he received the Rockies’ Community Involvement Award.

With the Rockies, Hensch spent time with students at Eileen Madson Primary School and helped set up a medical fair. On his own time, he has served food at the Legion and taught children how to skate, including students from Eileen Madson Primary School.

Josh Hogman – Creston Valley Thunder Cats

The Spruce Grove, Alta., native graduated from Lloydminster Composite High School in 2023 and attended St. Peter the Apostle Catholic High School from Grades 9-12. Hogman will attend the University of Michigan-Flint, where he is enrolled in the engineering program while playing for the Wolverines to pursue a career in aerospace engineering.

Hogman played 118 career regular season and playoff games in the KIJHL with the Castlegar Rebels (100) and Thunder Cats (18), recording 51 regular season points and one playoff point.

With the Rebels, Hogman earned the Most Valued Team Player award, the Most Inspirational Player award and the Gerry Lacasse Memorial Award, presented to the team’s grittiest and most community-minded player. With the Thunder Cats, he received the Most Inspirational Player award.

Jackson Murphy – Kimberley Dynamiters

The Calgary native graduated from Springbank Community High School in 2023. He will attend Lawrence University to study business law while playing for the Vikings.

Murphy played 113 career regular season games with the Dynamiters and recorded 78 points. He added 22 points in 40 playoff games. This season, he helped the Dynamiters win the KIJHL championship and collected 16 points in 20 playoff games. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound defenceman was named the Eddie Mountain Division’s Top Defenceman and earned KIJHL Stars of the Month honours for October and November.

With the Dynamiters, Murphy volunteered at Save-On-Foods, the JulyFest Parade, AC U9 Girls Hockey and Marysville School, among other community events. He received the Dynamiters Community Award in each of the past two seasons.

Johnathan Strecheniuk – Beaver Valley Nitehawks

The Edmonton native graduated from St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School in 2024 and has studied kinesiology at the University of Alberta. His goal is to earn a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree and graduate with honours from the Faculty of Kinesiology with a major in sport performance.

Strecheniuk has played two seasons with the Nitehawks, appearing in 82 games and collecting 31 points. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defenceman has also played in 18 playoff games and was selected as one of the KIJHL 3 Stars of the Week in 2024.

With the Nitehawks, Strecheniuk volunteered at several events, including Lions Bingo, Mountain Side Village seniors dancing, Montrose Community League Family Day, the BC Games and the Team Up for Seniors event.

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