The Grandview Junior Hockey Association was formed on August 17, 1967, after acceptance into the West Coast Junior Hockey League. The Association was formed “to foster, improve, and perpetuate a Junior Hockey Team in East Vancouver for players in that area.”
The team’s original name was Rowan’s Grandview Steelers, named after Ed Rowan, owner of Rowan Steel Ltd., who provided financial assistance to the community-sponsored team. From day one, until the 2003-2004 season, the Steelers’ home games were played on the small ice at “Trout Lake Arena” attached to the Grandview Community Centre. The original colours adopted were black and orange. The current colours, black and gold, were adopted in the 1980-1981 season. They were the colours of that era’s Grandview Minor Hockey Association. Over many years, the largest percentage of Steelers players came from the Grandview Minor Hockey Association.
Over time, the club found it difficult to remain a contender due to its mandate, which was to take players primarily from Grandview while other clubs searched far and wide, even reaching out to the province. There was also the difficulty of increasing operational costs within an era when junior ‘B’ clubs tried to operate more on a junior ‘A’ level. At the same time, the rink the Steelers were mandated to play in did not accommodate enough fans to help pay the bills.
Louis and Yvonne Szendrei took over the club’s running in 1980-1981; Louis became President/Governor of the Grandview Steelers. Before that, Louis was President of the Grandview Minor Hockey Association. Since that time, Louis has noted the foregoing difficulties, but despite them, he has enjoyed numerous successes that include going all the way. The Steelers were the 1993-1994 Provincial Champions. The Steelers, under the current coach, Aldo Bruno, were the 1999-2000 Provincial Finalists, having achieved 2nd place, and Aldo was named Coach of the Year that season.
Recognizing that the Steelers had recently outgrown Trout Lake, Louis Szendrei moved the team to Britannia Community Centre. The larger ice and much improved fan accommodation improved the spirits of the fans and players. Over time, players would be more eager to come and try out for the Steelers, who it is understood have always had management with a player-concerned attitude and the best coaching.
Starting the 2007-2008 season, the Steelers changed hands from Louis and Yvonne Szendrei to Mike and Sandy Moscone and Aldo Bruno. After many glorious years of exciting hockey in East Vancouver at the Trout Lake and Britannia Arenas, the 2007-2008 season brought new owners and a permanent change of venue to the Burnaby Winter Club.
The 2007-2008 season would see the Steelers struggle at the beginning but become victorious at the end, winning the League Championship (PIJHL) over the ever-persistent Abbotsford Pilots. The Steelers arrived in Kimberley and walked away with the Provincial Championship (Cyclone Taylor Cup). For the Western Canadian Finals or Keystone Cup, Selkirk, Manitoba, is the next stop in an already incredible year. The Steelers came home with the Bronze.
Fast-forward to the 2024-2025 season, and the Steelers have been named a Tier 1 Junior A Hockey Club and have changed their name to the BURNABY STEELERS to better represent their new home.
