{{Short description|Junior ice hockey franchise}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox ice hockey team | team = Summerland Jets HC | bg_colour = #1B3160; border:#9E1B20 3px solid | text_colour = #FFFFFF | logo = Summerland_Jets_logo.png | logo_size = | city = Summerland | league = BCHC | conference = | division = | founded = {{Start date|2026}} | arena = Summerland Arena | colours = {{Colour box|#1B3160}} Blue<br/>{{Colour box|#9E1B20}} Red | owner = Summerland Jr. B Hockey Society | gm = | coach = | website = |head_coach=Robert Dirk |name1=Summerland Jets |dates1=2026-present}}
The '''Summerland Jets Hockey Club''' is a junior ice hockey club and franchise of the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) based in Summerland, British Columbia. The Jets initially joined the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) as an expansion franchise for the 2026–27 season, before joining the BCHC in April 2026 as part of BC Hockey's restructuring of Junior A in British Columbia. It is owned and operated by the community-led Summerland Jr. B Hockey Society. The team will play out of the 800-seat Summerland Arena which opened in 1976.<ref name="sr_27march2026">{{cite news |last1=Arendt |first1=John |title=Summerland recreation facilities mark 50 years |url=https://summerlandreview.com/2026/03/27/summerland-recreation-facilities-mark-50-years/ |access-date=3 April 2026 |work=Summerland Review |date=27 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
== History == In the 1980s, Summerland was home to the Summerland Buckaroos, a Junior A team in the British Columbia Hockey League that relocated from Kelowna. The Buckaroos ceased operations in 1988 following three straight losing seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=February 17, 2022 |title=60th Anniversary Spotlight: 1980s |url=https://bchl.ca/60th-anniversary-spotlight-1980s |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=bchl.ca |language=en}}</ref>
In 2001, the Summerland Sting began playing in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). In 2009, the team moved to Penticton to become the Penticton Lakers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2009 |title=BC Daily Buzz - Summerland Sting Relocate To Penticton |url=http://www.bcdailybuzz.com/media/2991/Summerland_Sting_relocate_to_Penticton/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175556/http://www.bcdailybuzz.com/media/2991/Summerland_Sting_relocate_to_Penticton/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=bcdailybuzz.com |language=en}}</ref> The team has since relocated to 100 Mile House and become the 100 Mile House Wranglers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 25, 2024 |title=Summerland Steam franchise moving to Williams Lake |url=https://www.pentictonherald.ca/sports/article_c846dc10-eac9-11ee-b213-4fe406fe4e97.html |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=Penticton Herald |language=en-CA}}</ref>
Two seasons later, in 2011–12, the KIJHL returned to Summerland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=League History |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/league-history |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=kijhl.ca |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Summerland Steam sold, relocating to Williams Lake |url=https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/sports/summerland-steam-sold-relocating-to-williams-lake-7332913 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602194559/https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/sports/summerland-steam-sold-relocating-to-williams-lake-7332913 |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |access-date=April 23, 2026 |work=Vernon Morning Star |language=en}}</ref> The Summerland Steam played in the KIJHL for 12 seasons before being relocated to Williams Lake and becoming the Williams Lake Mustangs in 2024.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
In October 2025, the District of Summerland council endorsed a proposal to bring junior hockey back to the community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lacey |first=Keith |date=October 13, 2026 |title=Summerland Steam will be returning to KIJHL |url=https://www.castanet.net/news/Summerland/577430/Summerland-Steam-will-be-returning-to-KIJHL |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=castanet.net |language=en-CA}}</ref>
On February 12, 2026, the KIJHL announced that it would once again return to Summerland, starting in 2026–27.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=February 12, 2026 |title=KIJHL returning to Summerland for 2026-27 season |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-returning-to-summerland-for-2026-27-season |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=kijhl.ca |language=en-US}}</ref> On March 18, 2026, it was announced that the new team would be called the Summerland Jets, taking its name from the existing minor hockey association that has been in the community since the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arendt |first=John |date=March 18, 2026 |title=New Summerland junior hockey team to use Jets name |url=https://pentictonwesternnews.com/2026/03/18/new-summerland-junior-hockey-team-to-use-jets-name/ |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=Penticton Western News |language=en-CA}}</ref> This coincided with the KIJHL and BC Hockey's restructuring of Junior A hockey in British Columbia. On April 22, 2026, the KIJHL announced that 14 of its member clubs, including the Summerland Jets, would be joining the new British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) for 2026–27.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=April 22, 2026 |title=BCHC launches as sanctioned Junior A league |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/bchc-launches-as-sanctioned-junior-a-league |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=kijhl.ca |language=en-US}}</ref>
On April 22, 2026, the Jets announced that Robert Dirk would be the team's first head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=April 22, 2026 |title=Jets name Robert Dirk as its first head coach |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/jets-name-robert-dirk-as-its-first-head-coach |access-date=April 23, 2026 |website=kijhl.ca |language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== Sources == {{refbegin}} *{{cite news |last1=Lacey |first1=Keith |title=Summerland Steam will be returning to KIJHL |url=https://www.castanet.net/news/Summerland/577430/Summerland-Steam-will-be-returning-to-KIJHL |access-date=3 April 2026 |work=castanet.net |date=13 October 2025}} *{{cite web |title=KIJHL returning to Summerland for 2026–27 season |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/kijhl-returning-to-summerland-for-2026-27-season |website=kijhl.ca |publisher=Kootenay International Junior Hockey League |access-date=3 April 2026 |date=12 February 2026}} *{{cite news |last1=Arendt |first1=John |title=Junior hockey franchise coming back to Summerland |url=https://summerlandreview.com/2026/02/13/junior-hockey-franchise-coming-back-to-summerland/ |access-date=3 April 2026 |work=Summerland Review |date=13 February 2026 |language=en}} *{{cite web |title=United as Jets: Summerland aligns with Minor Hockey |url=https://www.kijhl.ca/united-as-jets-summerland-jr-team-aligns-with-smha |website=kijhl.ca |publisher=Kootenay International Junior Hockey League |access-date=3 April 2026 |date=17 March 2026}} *{{cite news |last1=Arendt |first1=John |title=New Summerland junior hockey team to use Jets name |url=https://keremeosreview.com/2026/03/18/new-summerland-junior-hockey-team-to-use-jets-name/ |access-date=3 April 2026 |work=keremeosreview.com |publisher=Keremeos Review |date=18 March 2026}} *{{cite news |last1=Powrie |first1=Chelsea |title='Summerland Jets' officially named as the KIJHL expansion team for 2026-27 |url=https://www.castanet.net/news/KIJHL/604149/-Summerland-Jets-officially-named-as-the-KIJHL-expansion-team-for-2026-27 |access-date=3 April 2026 |work=castanet.net |date=17 March 2026 |language=en}} {{refend}} {{BCHC|state=expanded}} {{Canada-icehockey-team-stub}} Category:Ice hockey teams in British Columbia Category:2026 establishments in British Columbia Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 2026 Category:Kootenay International Junior Hockey League