After years of hypothesis, discuss of a potential merger involving junior hockey groups in B.C. and Alberta has lastly come to fruition.
In response to two social media posts, the Brooks Bandits, Spruce Grove Saints, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Blackfalds Bulldogs are leaving the Alberta Junior Hockey League for the B.C. Hockey League.
On Saturday morning, the BCHL confirmed the announcement.
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The information signifies that the BCHL will develop from 17 groups to 22 whereas the AJHL will probably be diminished from 16 to 11.
“The British Columbia Hockey League has introduced that it has come to phrases with 5 Alberta-based groups to hitch the league for the 2024-25 season,” the league mentioned on its web site.
“The groups which have dedicated to phrases embody the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints. Additional data, equivalent to league construction, will probably be introduced within the coming weeks.
“There will probably be no additional remark till extra data is accessible.”
Final June, the BCHL left Hockey Canada, turning into an unbiased league. By doing so, the league has misplaced Hockey Canada privileges, equivalent to its gamers competing on nationwide groups.
Nonetheless, the choice allowed the BCHL to do no matter it wished, equivalent to crossing provincial borders to draw gamers — one thing it couldn’t do underneath Hockey Canada guidelines.
“Leaving Hockey Canada was a protracted course of, a troublesome choice,” BCHL CEO Chris Hebb advised Jay Janower of World Information on Saturday morning.
“We’ve got no animosity in the direction of the federation. However to ensure that us to develop, we wanted to have our fingers on the wheel. And now what we’re doing is one thing that I imagine, throughout the nation, that different leagues are watching.
“And so they’re very enthusiastic about seeing precisely what it seems to be wish to be unbiased of Hockey Canada.”
Hebb was additionally requested about hypothesis that these 5 groups could be leaving the AJHL for the BCHL.
“There could also be some development that’s related to that, however, on the finish of the day, we’re a player-centric league,” Hebb mentioned.
“What we wish is our gamers to come back and have an incredible expertise within the BCHL, particularly children that may get faculty commitments out of their hockey expertise and transfer on to be educated on account of that.
“To me, there’s nothing above that by way of what occurs with Hockey Canada or doesn’t occur with Hockey Canada. We’re simply attempting to get these children an incredible schooling via their hockey.”
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