Williams Lake Mustangs

Williams Lake Mustangs
CityWilliams Lake, British Columbia
LeagueBCHC
DivisionInterior
Founded2011
Home arenaCariboo Memorial Recreation Centre
Colours  Blue
  Grey
General managerTyrel Lucas
Head coachTyrel Lucas
Websitewlmustangs.ca
Franchise history
2011–2024Summerland Steam
Since 2024Williams Lake Mustangs
Previous franchise history
2011–2026KIJHL
Since 2026BCHC

The Williams Lake Mustangs are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Williams Lake, British Columbia. They are set to compete in the Interior Division in the British Columbia Hockey Conference (BCHC) beginning in the 2026–27 season after playing in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The team relocated to Williams Lake in 2024 from Summerland where they played as the Summerland Steam from 2011 to 2024.

History

The Summerland Steam debuted as an expansion team in the 2011–12 season of the KIJHL. The town of Summerland previously had a franchise in the KIJHL, called the Summerland Sting, which relocated to Penticton for the 2009-10 KIJHL season, only two seasons before the Steam were founded. In the 1980s, the town was home to the Summerland Buckaroos, a Junior A team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The Buckaroos only lasted five seasons due to continuous losing records. The team had its best post-season run in following the 2015-16 season, winning their division before being defeated by the 100 Mile House Wranglers in the league semi-finals.

The team relocated to Williams Lake in March 2024 and was renamed the Williams Lake Mustangs.

On April 20, 2026, the Mustangs were named as one of 22 teams joining the BCHC, leaving the KIJHL with the remaining 12 teams.

Season-by-season record

Summerland Steam

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, PTS = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGPWLTOTLPTSGFGAFinishPlayoffs
2011-1252153502321973005th of 5, Okanagan
17th of 20, KIJHL		Did not qualify
2012-1352212812451632024th of 5, Okanagan
14th of 20, KIJHL		Lost Div Semifinals, 2-4 (Chiefs)
2013-1452331513702081521st of 5, Okanagan
5th of 20, KIJHL		Lost Div Semifinals, 2-4 (Knights)
2014-1552281923611671412nd of 5, Bill Ohlhausen
8th of 20, KIJHL		Won Div. Semifinal, 4-3 (Chiefs)
Lost Div. Finals,2-4 (Coyotes)
2015-1652341602701731222nd of 5, Bill Ohlhausen
5th of 20, KIJHL		Won Div. Semifinal, 4-3 (Chiefs)
Won Div. Finals, 4-2 (Coyotes)
Lost Conf Finals, 1-4 (Wranglers)
2016-174129813621621032nd of 5, Bill Ohlhausen
4th of 20, KIJHL		Won Div Semifinal, 4-3 (Chiefs)
Lost Div Finals, 0-4 (Coyotes)
2017-1841271613581731563rd of 5, Bill Ohlhausen
9th of 20, KIJHL		Lost Div Semifinal, 4-3 (Chiefs)
2018-19 49 25 20 2 2 54 166 155 2nd of 5, Bill Ohlhausen
8th of 20, KIJHL		 Won Div Semifinal, 4-1 (Posse)
Lost Div Finals, 4-1 (Chiefs)
2019-20 49 22 22 1 4 49 162 174 3rd of 5, Bill Ohlhausen
12th of 20, KIJHL		 Lost Div Semifinal, 4-0 (Posse)
2020–21 3 2 1 0 0 4 9 8 Season cancelled
2021–22 42 22 16 - 4 48 148 163 3rd in division
9th overall		 Won quarterfinal against Kelowna (4:1)
Lost semifinal against Osoyoos (4:2)
2022–23 44 14 24 - 6 34 104 165 4th in division
16th overall		 Lost quarterfinal against Princeton (4:0)
2023–24449295124741995th in division
18th overall		Did not qualify
2024–2544152234371561934th in division
16th ooverall		Lost quarterfinal against 100 Mile House (4:2)

Playoffs

Summerland Steam

SeasonDivision SemifinalsDivision FinalsConference FinalsKIJHL Championship
2011-12Did not qualify
2012-13L, 2-4, Kelowna———
2013-14L, 2-4, North Okanagan———
2014-15W, 4-3, KelownaL, 2-4, Osoyoos——
2015-16W, 4-2, KelownaW, 4-2, OsoyoosL, 1-4, 100 Mile House—
2016-17W, 4-3, KelownaL, 0-4, Osoyoos——
2017-18 L, 4-3, Kelowna — — —
2018-19 W, 4-1, Princeton L, 4-1, Kelowna — —
2019-20 L, 4-0, Princeton — — —
2020-21 Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus
2021-22 W, 4-1, Kelowna L, 2-4, Osoyoos — —
2022-23 L, 0-4, Princeton — — —
2023-24 Did not qualify
Williams Lake Mustangs
2024-25 L, 2-4, 100 Mile House — — —

See also

References

  1. ↑ "BCHC launches as sanctioned Junior A league". British Columbia Hockey Conference. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  2. ↑ Arendt, John (22 March 2024). "Summerland Steam sold, relocating to Williams Lake". Vernon Morning Star. Black Press Media. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "BCHC launches as sanctioned Junior A league". British Columbia Hockey Conference. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.