The BCHL confirmed Saturday that 5 Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) groups will be a part of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) subsequent season.
The groups embrace the Sherwood Park Crusaders, Spruce Grove Saints, Brooks Bandits, Blackfalds Bulldogs and Okotoks Oilers.
“The British Columbia Hockey League has introduced that it has come to phrases with 5 Alberta-based groups to affix the league for the 2024-25 season,” the BCHL mentioned on its web site Saturday. The assertion went on to supply details about the construction that can be introduced within the coming weeks. “There can be no additional remark till extra info is obtainable.”
“Full shock, this a league that’s going via some adjustments,” mentioned Brenden Escott, a sports activities reporter with Corus Leisure’s 630 CHED. “We’ve seen some totally different possession teams come via– Blackfalds being the latest staff in fact, however perhaps this a sign of the place a few of the different provincial associations wish to go.”
The BCHL now grows from 17 groups to 22 whereas the AJHL can be diminished from 16 to 11. The way forward for the remaining groups within the AJHL stays unclear, bringing a significant change to the league which shaped in 1964.
International Information reached out the AJHL for remark however a league spokesperson reply and mentioned the league wouldn’t be commenting right now.
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“I feel seeing the groups which have shaped to make this preliminary exodus, these are very highly effective groups throughout the Alberta junior league and so I’m definitely inquisitive about who will observe and what standing that leaves the Alberta junior league in, is it even thought-about junior A hockey transferring ahead” Escott continued. “Alot of this has to do with possession {dollars} too, in order that’s one thing that we’re going to need to hold a eager eye on.”
In AJHL standings Brooks was in first place with 78 factors, adopted by Sherwood Park (73), Okotoks (66) and Blackfalds (63) as of Saturday. Of the 5 groups leaping ship to B.C., solely Spruce Grove wasn’t within the prime 5. The Saints are twelfth in league standings with 41 factors.
The information additionally got here with the BCHL internet hosting its all-star weekend in Penticton.
“It’s shedding mild on simply what number of restrictions include a membership to Hockey Canada,” Escott added.
Primarily whenever you lose these restrictions, it opens up totally different participant markets to totally different provinces and even Europe, it would imply fewer alternatives for a few of these native gamers, it’s going to make issues much more aggressive, it may very well be good by way of the product that’s on the market on the ice however by way of rising and growing native hockey expertise it’s definitely one thing that they must monitor.”
Final June, the BCHL left Hockey Canada, turning into an impartial league. By doing so, the league misplaced Hockey Canada privileges, corresponding to its gamers competing on nationwide groups.
Nevertheless, the choice enabled the BCHL to do no matter it wished, corresponding to crossing provincial borders to draw gamers — one thing it couldn’t do beneath Hockey Canada guidelines.
Escott pointed to the Brook Bandits for instance.
“When Cale Macar went to the NHL, he was a fourth total draft choose and that was an enormous enhance to the league, however the Brooks Bandits didn’t get any kind of growth price as kind of an award,” Escott mentioned.
Hockey Canada does give that out to it’s members it CHL so the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, that kind of factor. While you step away from these restrictions from Hockey Canada, not solely do you get entry to fewer roster restrictions however probably more cash on the desk.”
“Leaving Hockey Canada was an extended course of, a troublesome choice,” BCHL CEO Chris Hebb instructed Jay Janower of International Information on Saturday morning. “Now we have no animosity in direction of the federation. However to ensure that us to develop, we would have liked to have our arms on the wheel. And now what we’re doing is one thing that I consider, throughout the nation, that different leagues are watching. They usually’re very all in favour of seeing precisely what it seems prefer to be impartial of Hockey Canada.
“What we would like is our gamers to return and have an incredible expertise within the BCHL, Hebb added. “Particularly children that may get school commitments out of their hockey expertise and transfer on to be educated because of that.
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