With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams.

Next in the Quick Shift series is the Columbia Valley Rockies.

The Rockies finished third in the Eddie Mountain division last season with a record of 26-16-2. They lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Kimberley Dynamiters in five games.

In his second season as head coach-general manager of the Rockies, Tayler Sincennes will be counting on second-year goalie Ryan Bain, a Hanley, Sask., native, to be the starter with Carter Bergstrom as his back-up.

“Bain looks sharp early this year and I’m really excited for how he’s gonna look and Bergstrom is looking sharp as well and competing for those starts,” said Sincennes.

Bain has a competitiveness that the Rockies head coach likes.

“He’ll give you every effort that he’s got in the tank to make a save, which is something that I think instills confidence in the group,” said Sincennes. “He gets guys and the bench excited during games and it’s also good in practice because he doesn’t want guys to score on him.”

Returning Players: F-Carter Velker (42-21-23-44 ), Peter Godley ( 41-20-20-40), Carter Hensch (33-12-15-27), Ethan Cerone (41-15-11-26), D-Johnny Lozeman (41-9-15-24), Lukas Masters (37-6-8-14), Chance Cole (23-1-10-11), G-Ryan Bain (20-12-5-2, 3.75 GAA | .883 SP).

Acquisitions: F-Cole King (via trade from the Princeton Posse – 33-4-6-10).

Rookies: F- Kaiden Day – Calgary Rockies U18 – JPHL (28-5-30-35), Jack Miller –  Calgary Royals U18AAA (38-7-17-24), Julien Galenza –  Red Deer Chiefs U18AAA (38-5-6-11), Rhett Schwab – Leduc Oil Kings U18AAA (38-4-9-13),  Easton Doan – Calgary Northstars U18AAA (28-2-7-9), Ryan Fingarson – Calgary Royals U18AAA (38-5-7-12). D- Cohen Carlson – Red Deer Elks U18AA (33-13-15-28 | Rocky Rams – Heritage Junior Hockey League (5-2-1-3), G- Carter Bergstrom –  Lloydminster Lancers U18AAA – (19 GP | .871 SP | 5.52 GAA).

Team Outlook: “I like the pace at which we play so far,” said Sincennes. “They’re trying to play fast, learning how to play fast. Our practices are up tempo, which is a big MO to the way we want to play.”

He described the team as an exciting group with veteran-laden forwards who are going to drive the way the Rockies play. The rookies and experienced players have worked well together.

“Our veteran players are good leaders,” he added. “They are leading them in the right direction. The energy around the locker room was excellent. The young guys are eager to be here and the older guys are eager to help them along.”

KIJHL

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