The absence of the Bellingham Blazers left Bellingham without a junior hockey team for the first time since the 2012 season. A new team, the Bellingham Breakers HC (Hockey Club), will now step in to help fill the void left by the Blazers after they suspended operations for the 2025-26 season.
The Breakers will compete in the Junior Prospects Hockey League (JPHL) at the 17U AAA level.
League Insights With Commissioner Richard Nault
Commissioner Richard Nault said the league continues to grow rapidly. “Going into Season 5, we will be 60-plus teams strong and will have teams represented in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and obviously Washington,” Nault said.
He also outlined the league’s development structure. “We offer four divisions as follows: 14U AAA, 15U AAA, 17U AAA, and 18U AAA. Many of our teams also own BCHL teams or franchises, so we are very connected to all major junior and Junior A hockey leagues.”
While the league is still building its legacy, early success stories are already emerging.
“In regard to ‘famous alumni,’ we are still fairly new, so alumni are just starting to graduate from the league. This past season, Liam Pue (Langley, British Columbia) went third overall in the WHL Draft to the Regina Pats. He also made the U17 Canadian national team as an underage player and finished in the top five in scoring at the World Championships,” Nault said.
Nault also emphasized the experience within the league’s leadership and coaching ranks.
“We also have a wealth of NHL alumni in the league, Kelly Buchberger, Shawn Belle, Clayton Stoner, Chris Joseph, and more, along with dozens of current coaches who work for CHL, BCHL, and other junior teams in our league. While we are a newer league, the people within it are not new, and we embody a lot of experience on and off the ice,” Nault said.
Bellingham Breakers as Part of Junior Prospects Hockey League
The Bellingham Breakers will be the first American-based team in the JPHL.
“The Washington state area has long been a geographical focus for us. We have a good understanding of the area through our relationship with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, and the Bellingham area also aligns well with proximity to our existing British Columbia members and teams,” Nault said. “We are extremely careful and selective with the people within. We understand the importance of strong, stable leadership, and the Bellingham group represents that.”
The team will be owned, operated, and coached by Vic Pereira, who previously coached U18 hockey with the Bellingham Junior Blazers and played junior hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League before competing collegiately in NCAA hockey with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
“It all started with a podcast I watched that included JPHL commissioner Richard Nault,” Pereira said. “While the idea of bringing AAA hockey to Bellingham had been on my mind for several years, it was watching that podcast that propelled me to engage with the league. Through conversations with leadership, it was clear our vision aligned. The league is growing quickly across North America and was looking for the right market to begin expansion into the United States. Bellingham made a lot of sense. It sits in a unique cross-border region that connects Washington and British Columbia.”
Bellingham Breakers Hockey in Whatcom County
Pereira added that his connection to the area runs deep.
“I’ve been closely connected to this community for nearly a decade through my involvement in hockey. Although I was born and raised in Abbotsford, when my family moved back from New York about 12 years ago, it truly felt like coming home. Whatcom County and the development of hockey in this area have remained my main focus for several years.”
He said he believes the community is ready to support a team again.
“I’ve built strong relationships within the local hockey community and have seen firsthand how passionate and supportive people here are. I believe Bellingham will strongly support the JPHL because there’s a real appetite for high-level hockey and player development in the area. Our players will be active community members, which will further weave us into the county’s fabric,” Pereira said.
The Breakers’ logo and colors were designed to reflect both identity and regional connection. The central figure, Poseidon, symbolizes strength, resilience, and competitiveness, while also reflecting the Pacific Northwest’s coastal culture. A wave element reinforces motion, energy, and teamwork and subtly forms a lowercase “b” for Breakers.
Interest in the team has been strong early.
“We had 78 players register for our ID skates, which is a great early indicator of the demand and excitement around the club,” Pereira said. “We already have commitments for over three-quarters of our roster. These players come from Washington, Oregon, across the United States, and internationally, including Switzerland. The depth and diversity of the talent pool have been very encouraging.”
The team hopes to play home games at the Bellingham Sportsplex, though that remains uncertain in the first season.
Nault said new JPHL teams typically do not host home games in year one. “The onboarding process is extensive enough that we do not like to burden our members with extra layers of responsibility,” he said. “The first year is about learning expectations and standards through experience. We typically find more success in the second season.”
He added that the league operates differently from traditional models. “We are not like traditional hockey leagues. We do not simply rent ice, create a schedule, and wish teams luck. Every game in the JPHL is professionally broadcast with a producer, camera operator, and play-by-play commentary. We also have league executives at every game.”
Nault said the league’s approach is intentionally hands-on. “We are very much a boots-on-the-ground organization. Our community is in the arenas, so we focus on building relationships with athletes, families, and stakeholders in person, not behind a computer,” he said.
The JPHL continues to explore expansion into the United States, though Nault said further details are not yet available. “We are excited about future growth, but it will be calculated and responsible,” he said. “Our decisions are very intentional and strategic.”
The Breakers are expected to begin play this fall. More information is available here.
