With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. First up in the Quick Shift series is the Quesnel River Rush.
The River Rush had a successful first season after relocating from North Okanagan going 19-19-3-3 to qualify for the KIJHL Teck Cup playoffs. They lost in four to the Kamloops Storm in the first round.
The River Rush head into their second season under new head coach-GM Jeremy LeBlanc. Main camp was in mid August and two players who made strong early impressions with their leadership were Deegan Bert and Kade Lawlor. Bert was acquired from the Golden Rockets, and Lawlor from the Storm.
“He (Bert) is helping us change the culture a lot along with Lawlor,” added LeBlanc. “They are two really good leadership guys. They seem to be gelling well with the group.”
Returning Players: F- Gage Parrell (41-13-27-40), Toren Fron (38-12-14-26), Dawson Ernst (39-8-12-20), Lynden Donald-Gorman (20-9-9-18), Max Kinnee (37-8-10-18), Jayden Mackie (36-4-8-12), Reece Unrau (34-2-2-4), Caden Cygan (16-2-0-2), D-Ian George (41-13-20-33), Jimmy Proulx (36-0-8-8), G-Kyan Gray (29-16-8, 3.55 GAA, .889 SP).
Acquisitions: Jackson Rendall (29-7-6-13 – trade from Spokane Braves), Mason Hillier (trade from Castlegar Rebels- 24-6-13-2, 3.45 GAA, .914 SP.), Bert (trade from Golden Rockets – 37-6-15-21), Rhyle Weaslehead (trade from Castlegar Rebels – 40-2-7-9), Lawlor (trade from Kamloops Storm – 36-1-3-4), Cohan Kuncio (25-5-8-13 – trade from Mission City – PJHL), AJ Frigon (41-5-13-18 trade from Mission City – PJHL), Emmett Barron (35-0-5-5 – signed from VIJHL | Kerry Park Islanders\Saanich Predators).
Rookies: F- Gavyn Schaufele – Titan Union Hockey U18 – Junior Prospects Hockey League (25-17-11-28), Colby Callan – Leduc Oil Kings U17 AAA (31-13-16-29), D-Hudson Enns – CNHA Black U18AA (31-6-10-16), G-Kaleb Miller – Island HC U18 – Junior Prospects Hockey League (18-5-11-0, 4.35 GAA, .886 SP.)
Team Outlook: LeBlanc really likes the look of his group and said the “depth is unreal.”
“I feel like we’re going to be very fast and hard to play against,” said LeBlanc. “That’s been my motto since the day I got here. I think we’re accomplishing that so far.”
Goaltending is an area that LeBlanc focused on to avoid the movement they had last season. He liked the play of Gray, “but the rest of it was kind of a carousel.”
Along with trading for Hillier from the Rebels, LeBlanc signed Miller, who he has been really happy with.
“He plays the puck really well. He battles hard in practice,” said LeBlanc. “The boys love him. It’s really going to be a good battle. I feel like we are in a good position goaltender-wise.”
