1967–68 WKJHL season
The 1967-68 West Kootenay Junior Hockey League Season was the first in league history. The league was founded in Castlegar, with teams playing in Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Rossland, and Grand Forks. The Trail Junior Smoke Eaters won the league's inaugural championship. There is some contention over whether or not this season was actually played, the KIJHL website lists this championship on its list of winners however, this is contradicted by its own history and research by Kootenay historian Greg Nesteroff
Teams
The Trail Jr. Smoke Eaters, and Rossland Jr. Warriors were named after the senior-level hockey teams that already operated in their respective cities. The team in Castlegar was BRANDed as the Apollos, Nelson was branded as the Plaza Oilers due to sponsorship, and the Grand Forks-based club was named the Border Bruins, a nod to the proximity to the United States and fauna in the area.
League map
Castlegar Apollos
| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|3|#ff0000}} Trail Smoke Eaters
| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|4|#ff0000}} Rossland Warriors
| {{#invoke:overlay|icon|5|#ff0000}} Grand Forks Border Bruins
}}|mark-title2=Castlegar Apollos|mark-title3=Trail Smoke Eaters|mark-title4=Rossland Warriors|mark-title5=Grand Forks Border Bruins|mark-title7=|mark-title6=|mark-title8=|mark-title9=|mark-title10=|mark-title11=|mark-title12=|mark-title13=|mark-title14=|mark-title15=|mark-title16=|mark-title17=|mark-title18=|mark-title20=|mark-title19=|mark-title21=|mark-description2=Castlegar Community Complex|mark-description3=Cominco Arena|mark-description5=Jack Goddard Memorial Arena|mark-description4=Rossland Arena|mark-description6=|mark-description7=|mark-description8=|mark-description9=|mark-description10=|mark-description11=|mark-description12=|mark-description13=|mark-description14=|mark-description15=|mark-description16=|mark-description17=|mark-description18=|mark-description20=|mark-description19=|mark-description21=}}
Regular season
Upon the completion of the regular the team with the best record won the league without a playoff matchup. As such the Trail Smoke Eaters were the first team to win the league title, after finishing with the best record in the regular season.
The final standings were as follows:
- Trail Smoke Eaters
- Rossland Warriors
- Nelson Plaza Oilers
- Castlegar Apollos
- Grand Forks Border Bruins