WHL BOG special session

[Tipped Off]

this tells me something will come out of this meeting...whether it be adding a team (expansion) or the realignment of the divisions. Why else would they already say they plan a media release if they didn't think something was going to happen.


WHL SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY
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CALGARY, AB - The Western Hockey League Board of Governors will be holding a special meeting on Thursday, March 16th, 2006 in Calgary, Alberta at the Telus Convention Centre (South Building, 120 - 9th Ave SE) to review the expansion application from the City of Edmonton, future WHL Conference re-Alignment and the proposed sale of the Portland Winter Hawks.

Following the WHL Board of Governors Meeting, WHL Commissioner Ron Robison will be available for comments in the Glen Room (#205) at the Telus Convention Centre, across from the WHL Board of Governors' meeting room.

The WHL will also be issuing a media release immediately following the meetings.

[Beaner]

this tells me something will come out of this meeting...whether it be adding a team (expansion) or the realignment of the divisions. Why else would they already say they plan a media release if they didn't think something was going to happen.


Anyway you look at it they will have something to announce at the end of this meeting;

I'm betting on Edmonton team, approval of the Portland sale, and a realignment of some sort involving Kootenay.

[scamperdog]

By GREGG DRINNAN

Daily News Sports Editor

The WHL's board of governors convenes in Calgary on Thursday for what will
be its most important meeting in some time.

At the meeting, the board is expected to vote on whether to sell an
expansion franchise to the NHL's Edmonton Oilers and whether to OK the sale
of the Portland Winter Hawks. As well, with the expansion Chilliwack Bruins
beginning play in the fall, the board is expected to vote on realignment and
there also will be discussion involving next season's playoff format.

"We're procrastinating on a few items so it's time to get to the table and
make some decisions," WHL commissioner Ron Robison said on Tuesday from
Calgary.

The Oilers have long desired a WHL franchise and at one point had offered $5
million for any existing franchise that would be willing to relocate to the
Alberta capital. When no one took them up on that offer, the Oilers began to
pursue an expansion franchise. They made a pitch at a Feb. 7 governors'
meeting in Calgary. If there is a vote on Thursday and if it goes their way,
it's expected the Oilers would pay $4 million for a franchise that would
begin play in 2007-08 as the WHL's 22nd franchise.

"Everyone is concerned about the affect on the talent pool because we are
beyond where we originally thought we would be," Robison said. "But now that
we're there I think the market is one that we'd like to capitalize on from a
league perspective. When you look at what benefits we've gained from having
Calgary and Vancouver in the league, to add the third-largest market in
Western Canada would provide some obvious benefits."

The Winter Hawks' ownership group -- general manager Ken Hodge is majority
owner -- reached an agreement in principle to sell a couple of months ago
and the WHL has since been doing due diligence on the prospective three-man
ownership group. The principal owner would be Jim Goldsmith, a businessman
based in Manhattan. His partners are Dallas lawyer John Bryant and Jack
Donovan, who has a long history in minor league baseball and who would
relocate to Portland. Bryant, a former U.S. congressman, is co-founder of
the United League Baseball, which is to begin play in May.

Under terms of the sale agreement, Hodge would stay on as the Winter Hawks'
general manager.

"He's proven in the baseball industry," Robison said of the 56-year-old
Donovan, who as operating manager for the National League's Arizona
Diamondbacks runs the Triple A Tucson franchise.

"He's very enthusiastic in terms of wanting to continue the strong tradition
of that franchise," Robison said. "He believes in the market and believes in
the potential of our product. He is looking forward to getting on the ground
and getting going.

"He's a personable guy. He has a lot of energy and he sees some
opportunities to make that situation better. I think the combination of
having Ken Hodge stay on with him gives us real strength on both the
business and hockey sides."

The Portland vote is first on the agenda, followed by a vote on Edmonton's
expansion application. After that, comes realignment.

"Until we do that," Robison said, "we can't schedule and we can't plan. We're
hung up until we can get those decisions made."

JUNIOR JOTTINGS: The Kamloops Blazers have five members of the major midget
Thompson Blazers skating with them this week. Forwards Alex Rodgers, Tyler
Shattock and Mark Hall, along with defencemen Todd Kennedy and Kurt Torbohm,
all of whom were selected by the Blazers in the bantam draft, have joined
the WHL team after having their season end on Sunday. Kamloops plays the
Rockets in Kelowna on Saturday and plays host to the Prince George Cougars
on Sunday ... As well, RW Tyler Halliday of the midget Blazers has joined
the Red Deer Rebels, who won't make the playoffs. They play host to the
Calgary Hitmen on Saturday and meet the Hurricanes in Lethbridge on Sunday
... The Brandon Wheat Kings have lost LW Corey Courchene, 19, for the rest
of the season. He suffered a fractured right fibula in a Saturday game
against the Saskatoon Blades at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Courchene, who
had 24 points and 150 penalty minutes in 56 games, had surgery in Winnipeg
... The Wheat Kings and Moose Jaw Warriors will play Games 3 and 4 of their
East Division first-round series at the MTS Centre on March 27 and March 30.
The move is necessary because the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair will be in the
Keystone Centre ... The Tri-City Americans have added C Drew Hoff, 17, to
their roster for the remainder of the season. Hoff, 5-foot-10 and 180
pounds, is from Redvers, Sask., and had 38 points in 44 games with the
midget AAA Yorkton Harvest ... Regina G Linden Rowat broke a hand last week,
so the Pats have brought in Ryan Nieszner from the midget AAA Moose Jaw
Warriors to back up David Reekie ...