Five hockey teams defect to rival junior hockey league
PUBLICATION
Ryan Hall
February 4, 2024 (9:47)
After a story had broken out earlier this January regarding 5 Alberta junior teams wanting to change their leagues, they got their wish and will now be joining the British Columbia Hockey League.
During the announcement, Chris Heeb the CEO of the BCHL gave a warm welcome in acquiring these five franchises and gave the rest of his league an outlook of what is to come.
«We are pleased to officially welcome these five franchises into the fold as members of our league,» said Chris Hebb, Chief Executive Officer of the BCHL. «All five are strong organizations from great communities and we look forward to the immediate boost they will give our league. We were encouraged by their belief in our model and think that adding these teams will strengthen the development of all our players.»
It's highly unusual to see a team or teams break rank from a league and then switched to another mid season.
As the changes will be in effect for next season the five teams will be playing against each other for the remainder of this season and will be anointed an Alberta champion.
Once they have completed this, there will be a championship game between Alberta and British Columbia.
The teams affected are the Blackfalds Bulldogs, Brook Bandits, Octoks Oilers, Sherwood Park Crusaders and the Spruce Grove Saints.
POLL |
FEVRIER 4 | 198 ANSWERS Five hockey teams defect to rival junior hockey league Should teams be allowed to defect to another league mid season? |
Yes - It's buisness | 40 | 20.2 % |
No - Too Disruptive | 158 | 79.8 % |
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