Revelstoke Grizzlies wrapped its 2025/2026 regular season with a 7-1 win over the Sicamous Eagles Saturday, Feb. 28, earning the home team a top spot in the Bill Ohlhausen division, the Okanagan/Shuswap Conference and in the overall Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
The latest win earned the Grizzlies the Prestige Hotels and Resorts Cup, formerly the Presidents Cup, for the regular season champions in the KIJHL. Goalies William Stewart and Austin Seibel both earned top spots in the KIJHL goalie standings for the 2025/2026 regular season.
“[The Prestige Hotels and Resorts Cup] gives us some confidence that we did something right over the regular season,” head coach Jiri Novack said. “Now everyone’s looking forward to the playoffs.”
The Saturday, Feb. 28 game also saw team awards handed out for the season.
Team captain Jett Patola took home the most valuable player award. Maddox Popke earned rookie of the year, with the defenceman scoring five goals and 18 assists in the regular season.
Top defenseman went to Faris Meddeb. Brennan Coutts and Will Stewart were both highlighted for most improved in the season. Goalie Austin Seibel earned himself a most dedicated player award, and Connor Shymoniak went home with most sportsmanlike player.
Diego Smith earned the spotlight with the unsung hero award, and Brock Hudson received the community honour award. Jake Neufeld took home both the top scorer award for his 26 goals in the season and also the fan favourite award, and Jaylen Forsyth earned most inspirational player.
The Grizzlies also earned KIJHL Bill Ohlhausen Division awards Wednesday, March 4. Seibel was named Top Goaltender of the division, Novack himself was awarded Coach of the Year and Ryan Parent was named General Manager of the Year.
“I’m really confident that we have a really good group here who can make a long run in the playoffs,” Novack said.
The Grizzlies now head into the playoff season, facing off against the Merritt Centennials, first in the Bill Ohlhausen division. The Grizzlies wrapped the regular season with four wins and one loss against the Centennials.
“[The Centennials] plays with good structure, they play physical hockey. We just need to be prepared for it and manage,” Novack said.
There’s no one team Novack has his sights on for this playoff season as the Grizzlies work to bring the Teck Cup championship back home. The Grizzlies lost the cup to the Grand Forks Border Bruins after four losses in the 2025 playoff finals.
There’s one extra teammate Novack wants to thank as the regular season wraps; the fans, who have a habit of selling out nearly every home game.
“We are looking forward to seeing all these people be our seventh man in the playoffs. They will help us during those home games,” he said.
The Revelstoke Grizzlies welcome the Merritt Centennials to the Revelstoke Forum Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. The game starts at 7 p.m., tickets can be purchased through showpass.com/s/events/Revelstoke,BC,Canada.
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