The ongoing saga of the BCHL leaving Hockey Canada continues...
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The Outlaw BCHL lost a team last week when the Wenatchee Wild owners bought the Winnipeg Ice (former Kootenay Ice) and will move them to the US to play in the WHL’s US division this season.
The BCHL franchise is now for sale for around a million dollars and their players are free agents and can go anywhere they want.
Unlike the KIJHL who dispersed players when two teams did not play during the Covid debacle and were not granted free agency. Where are the lawyers when you need them.
FYI The WHL team sold for somewhere around five million.
The Ice left Winnipeg because they couldn’t get a WHL standard sized arena built... you know, just like the citizens of Cranbrook built for the Ice as part of the agreement to bring the WHL to Cranbrook.
Cranbrook has an ongoing lawsuit against the Ice for breaking their contract.
There is a good chance that we won’t have enough referees for the upcoming season because the idiots at BC Hockey say if you referee in the BCHL you can’t referee anywhere else.
So BC Hockey who claim they want to Lead, Develop and Promote Positive Lifelong Hockey Experiences will actually hurt hockey with their stupid attempt at getting even with the BCHL by banning the refs and also not allowing the BCHL players and coaches to go on the ice and help minor hockey players. How positive is that...They have way too much power and money.
This is from a media guy in Alberta who covers the AJHL.Refs can do both leagues in AB
Some Ghostrider news. Rider star forward Ethan MacDuff has been offered a spot with the Southern Maine Huskies in NCAA Division III next season. Many of the KIJHL players go to the American Collegiate Hockey Association or the ACHA so this is a little different.
MacDuff led the Ghostriders with 65 points in 43 games. In 86 career KIJHL games, the Lloydminster, Alberta product had 47 goals and 103 points. He added 13 points in 19 KIJHL playoffs. MacDuff also was the recipient of a $1000 KIJHL Bursary
Remember star goalie McCoy Bidewell from a couple of years ago, he just committed to play College hockey at NAIT. If you are wondering how that may have happened Ghostrider Coach Ty Valin routinely wears NAIT Ooks alumni swag.
