Five hockey teams defect to rival junior hockey league
PUBLICATION
Ryan Hall
February 4, 2024 (9:47)
Photo credit: Lakeland Connect
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.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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 % |
List of polls |
|
47 minutes ago | By Hunter Bowman Peter Laviolette shocks many as he calls out a certain aspect of Matt Rempe's game despite recent performance |
|
2 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau issues hot take on the J.T. Miller Trade |
|
3 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds Report: Rangers' MSG Networks Going Bankrupt and Could Be Bailed Out by Jeff Bezos |
|
4 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds New York Rangers Mika Zibanejad finds a sense of confidence despite awkward fit with J.T. Miller |
|
6 hours ago | By Hunter Bowman Peter Laviolette issues unexpected statement on how losing Adam Edstrom will affect the Rangers |
|
9 hours ago | By Joshua Deeds New York Rangers reportedly searching to fill specific positions at upcoming trade deadline |
|
11 hours ago | By Ryan Hall New York Rangers top defenseman targeted by two Western Conference teams following recent trade talks |
|
12 hours ago | By Hunter Bowman Season ending injury: New York Rangers confirm key forward will be out long-term with lower-body injury |