Not many hockey fans may have heard of the Logan Lake Miners, but that’s starting to change. The Miners, based in the small town of Logan Lake, are one of the newest and least-known additions to the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL).
The BCIHL is a men’s university hockey league based in our province, with occasional cross-border competition. It allows players to continue playing hockey in a competitive league while still pursuing their post-secondary studies. Unlike the U Sports league, the teams are not always directly affiliated with their school’s athletic department, often acting as independent or semi-independent club programs. As a result, the BCIHL tends to focus on small universities, with many rosters comprising players from multiple institutions. The Miners, for example, draw players from both TRU and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.
Founded in 2022, the Miners joined the league during the 2022-23 season. The goal was to fill the gap of having no university-level hockey team in the Kamloops-Merritt region, allowing players to compete competitively close to home. Originally, the founders of the program tried to start a youth hockey academy; however, that never took off, and they then shifted to a college-level team. The Miners ended up in Logan Lake due to the availability of ice.
“The reason it ended up in Logan Lake was just ice availability,” General manager and head coach Grant Friesen said. “Kamloops ice time is hard to come by with all their minor and junior teams. Here, we have more ice and a community that’s really gotten behind us.”
In the league, they compete against Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of Victoria (UVic), Vancouver Island University (VIU), and the Okanagan Lakers (players from UBC Okanagan & Okanagan College). Their seasons consist of 20-24 games.
During their first season, the Miners struggled, going winless in over 20 games. From there, they brought in Friesen to rebuild their program. “When I first took over, the team came off a winless season. I think they went 0–22,” Friesen said. “Where we’ve come from that to now is drastically different. The community is getting behind us, people are showing up to games, and players actually want to come play here.”
Under Friesen’s leadership, the team has rebuilt its identity both on and off the ice. With the growing support from the community and stronger recruitment of players, the Miners have really settled into Logan Lake as their home. They’ve developed into a competitive group with a tight-knit locker room.
“Being part of a program that’s really starting to build something here and build a culture in Logan Lake is something special,” Nathan Bohmer, a forward and second-year player in the carpentry program at TRU, said. “It’s a whole different world once you’re here.”
What makes the Miners different isn’t just their improving record; it’s the identity they’ve built around the character and commitment of the players on the team. With over half the roster in TRU’s trades programs, the Miners’ culture mirrors that same blue-collar mindset. Show up, work hard, and take pride in what you build. Friesen says that mindset defines everything about the program. “For us, everything’s based on hard work. We’re trying to prove we belong at this level and that we’re a sustainable program,” he said.
The dedication and hard work of the team are felt every day by each teammate.
“A lot of guys here work all day, go to school full time, and still play hockey,” Bohmer said. “That’s the toughest adjustment, being able to be a student-athlete while also paying bills, because everything’s expensive nowadays.”
Still, the team comes together and competes each night.
“We’re a bunch of misfits,” Bohmer proudly exclaimed. “Guys that people probably would’ve said no to on other teams. But we show up, work hard every night, and this place feels like home.”
The connection with the Logan Lake community has become a defining part of the team’s story. What began as a convenient location for ice time has grown into a town that’s passionate about its hockey team. Veteran defenceman Jordan Lairo, who’s been with the team since 2022, says the local support has grown alongside the team itself. “The first year we struggled to get people here,” Lairo said. “But now, with the mine, the community, and the work we do volunteering around town, it’s packed. Our playoffs had about a hundred people a night. It’s an unreal feeling.”
As Bohmer put it, communities like Logan Lake are often known for their support of hockey teams. “Small towns are known for their rowdy hockey crowds,” he said.
The team has also made an effort to give back and be involved in the community in return for the support they provide the Miners.
“We were able to raise enough money to give away season tickets to all the school-aged kids in Logan Lake,” Friesen said. “It’s a way to make hockey part of the community here.”
Looking forward to their season, the Miners are chasing more than just victories; they’re looking to earn respect from within the BCIHL.
“Our goal this year is to go to the finals,” Lairo shared. “We want to prove we’re not just an expansion team that people laughed at. We’re here to make an impact in the league.”
Friesen shared a similar long-term vision. “Success for us isn’t just about the standings,” he said. “It’s about providing a great experience for our players and showing the community that this is a place worth being part of.”
As the Miners continue to climb the BCIHL standings, they’re proving it isn’t just about wins and losses. A team that is made on pride, dedication, and teamwork, is worth more than what shows on the scoreboard.
“Every step we take matters, not just for us now, but for the guys who come later,” Laro said. “You’re building something bigger than yourself.”
For the Logan Lake Miners, that “something bigger” is more than a hockey program; it’s a legacy taking root in the heart of a small town that believes in them.