With the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) just underway, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams.

Next in the Quick Shift series are the Fernie Ghostriders.

The Ghostriders finished second in the Eddie Mountain division with a record of 28-10-4-2. They were swept from the first round of the playoffs by the Columbia Valley Rockies.

“Anytime you get swept in the first round, you first look at yourself as a coach and GM and ask yourself what you could do differently,” said head coach-general manager Chad Scharff. “Then you evaluate the group as a whole and I think we did a really good job doing that this spring and summer. The group seems really excited to be back and those added all bought into a change of pace and scenery.”

Scharff has liked the camaraderie and energy within the group.

Returning Players: F – Ben Skarsen (39-17-30-47), Coden Fournier (43-16-28-44), Liam Breakenridge (38-11-7-18), Sawyer Samycia (30-4-4-8), Ethan Buhler (28-0-7-7), D- Stephen Jones (43-2-12-14), Garrett Buchanan (41-2-11-13), Kellen Hale (27-0-5-5).

Acquisitions: F- Walker Overwater (via trade from Sicamous Eagles – 23-2-19-21), Hayden Evans (via trade from the Eagles – 44-20-27-47), D-Jurzy Allard – Great Falls Americans – NA3HL (32-5-6-11).

Rookies: F- Carter Chown – East Kootenay Avalanche U18AA (33-11-6-17), Owen MacLeod – Calgary Northstars U18AA (30-16-13-29), Owen Bon-Bernard – Calgary Northstars U18AA (29-19-9-28), Boston Logan – PAC Saints U18AA (32-36-22-58), D- Roman Strom – Calgary Rockies – JPHL U18 (27-2-6-8), Konnor Klemick – Yellowhead Chiefs U18AAA (48-3-10-13), Danil Timchuk – Calgary Rockies U18 – JPHL (24-1-7-8), G-Samuel Epp – Kitchener Rangers U18 AAA (14 GP | 3.48 GAA), Jaxson Hosegood – Airdrie Avalanche U17 AAA (14 GP | 1.74 GAA .938 SP.)

Team Outlook: The Ghostriders are going younger this season. Scharff and his staff focused on recruiting to build the team for years to come.

“We wanted to get a little more grit, more 200-foot players that can play in every situation and add to our depth,” said Scharff.

Overwater is an energy player who brings life to the dressing room and “a lot of jam to the ice.”

“He’s a good player, he can score goals,” said Scharff. “Bringing in a guy like him who can bring that life to our group is a positive.”

Scharff is excited about having rookies push the pace and experienced players to be better and hold each other accountable. The most important thing for Scharff is to have more consistency.

“I want to be consistent in our message as a staff, I want the players to be consistent in the communication with us and finding a balance of what works for our group,” he said. “We have a saying this year, ‘Our investment has to match our expectation.’ If we expect to be one of the best teams, we have to invest ourselves to be the best team.”

KIJHL

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