With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. Next in the Quick Shift series are the Sicamous Eagles.
The Eagles finished fourth in the Bill Ohlhausen division last season with a record of 22-16-6-0 for 50 points, earning the final playoff spot. They lost in the opening round against the Princeton Posse in five games.
Heading into this season, the Eagles have three pillars driving everything they do – humility, integrity and courage.
“We’re building good people on and off the ice,” said new head coach-general manager Derek Sweet-Coulter. “This means we are in the community helping people and making an impact. Yes, hockey is important, and we all want to win – training hard on and off the ice every day – but hockey is the tool we use to develop these boys into great people. To be humble, servant leaders in their own communities after they graduate from the Eagles program.”
The Eagles have already put in 30 hours of community work in their first week.
Returning Players: F- Ashton Angle (37-16-30-46), Nick Wright (35-7-11-18), D-Matthew Marino (39-1-7-8), Levi Dewitt (35-1-5-6).
Acquisitions: F-Braeden Jack (via trade from the Fernie Ghostriders – 38-7-10-17), Alex Crowe-Nippi (via trade from 100 Mile House Wranglers – 18-0-3-3), Grayden Ewing (signed – split season between 100 Mile House Wranglers/Airdrie Thunder), Marcus Cyr (via trade from Kimberley Dynamiters – 33-8-8-16), Riley Enns (via trade from the Ghostriders – 44-21-11-32), Tommy Hoshal (signed from Westshore Wolves – VIJHL – 76-2-4-6), D-Curtiss Gordon (via trade from Osoyoos Coyotes – 35-0-5-5), G-Jaidyn Shaw (via trade from the Wranglers – 15-6-7-0, .903 SP | 3.41 GAA)
Rookies: F-Pierce Spencer – Thompson Blazers U17AAA (30-6-10-16), Kai Schendel – Leduc U18AAA (38-3-10-13), Cameron Jacobsen 07 F/D – East Kootenay Avalanche U18AA(25-2-2-4), D-Madox Fisher – OHA Edmonton, Cooper Easthope (34-0-10-10), Crosby Hollinshead – NWCAA Bruins U18AA (31-3-11-14), G -Hayden Priebe – PAC Saints U18AA (16-8-5-1, 2.91 GAA | .919 SP).
Team Outlook: Sweet-Coulter made sure to recruit players who are willing to play in the middle of the ice.
“It’s very hard to find hockey players that are willing to go to the middle,” he said. “We wanted to make sure we had that hard skill where guys are willing to pay the price.”
In goal, the expectation is for Shaw to challenge and be one of the KIJHL’s top goaltenders.
“He’s a bit of a hidden talent. He’s got a lot to prove as well,” said Sweet-Coulter. “He got hurt and didn’t get to play a lot last year. He’s excited for the opportunity. Priebe will be there as a support guy. He is going to battle and try to earn every game he can get. It’s good competition there.”
