Last week, the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena hosted not only a hockey game but also the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s President, Bill Ohlhausen.

Ohlhausen has been the president of the league for the past six years.

He is very proud of the steps taken by the league recently to expand and put a better product on the ice.

“I think it is getting better every year. This year we have added North Okanagan which is another thing we have to get excited about,” he said.

This will not be the last expansion for the KIJHL, with another one planned for next year. One of the most beneficial side effects to expansion is the number of local players who are getting the chance to play in the league.

Ohlhausen said, “There are many young people out there that can play the game and they are not getting the chance to play. As a developmental league we want to make sure we give them the opportunity to tune their skills up to move on.”

The goal of the league according to Ohlhausen is to help move them as soon as possible.

Unlike many other leagues, players tend not to spend more than two seasons in the KIJHL before they move on to another advanced level.

With a goal of moving players to the next level, the league is very proud of where their players are moving on to.

This year two players from the Nelson Leafs moved to division one and this puts the KIJHL name on the map, according to Ohlhausen.

He said, “If they do not go to Junior A they can go to collegiate teams. This is what it is all about. If they can tie it in with an education that is great.”

Ohlhausen thinks the players need to have a plan for their future that may not include hockey.

“Hockey is good as long as you can play it, but when it runs out you need something,” he said. “Hockey is great but the scholarship that can come with it can’t be beat.”

Although the president has nothing but the best hopes for the players in the league, he is realistic about the chances the players have of going all the way to the top.

One of the main challenges facing the league right now is controlling cost for teams on the road.

Ohlhausen hopes many teams will make the move to have their own team buses in the future because it seems to be a cost-saving measure.

He also wants to see the teams in the KIJHL work together to make a stronger league. During the season Ohlhausen travels to all the towns and cities that have a KIJHL team.

While there, he talks to coaches and managers about any questions they have and what they would like to see in the future.

Ohlhausen has been involved in hockey since 1975 and hopes to stick around for two more years. He then hopes someone new will take over the league.

Doing his job has been a family affair that he enjoys doing with his wife.

Watching the players develop into good people is something he never gets tired of seeing.

“I enjoy seeing these young people play and hope they enjoy their stint in the KIJHL from playing the game to learning life skills, "Ohlhausen said. “I think that each team has to impart to these players that there is something beyond hockey.”