W.H.L. Board of Governers to meet
The Board will meet Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss some issues.
Scout ( Courtesy M.H. news )
____________________
WHL to discuss expansion
Board will meet, but not vote, about adding another team
Canadian Press
June 11, 2005
The subject of expansion to Edmonton will be part of the Western Hockey
League's board of governors meetings next week, but commissioner Ron Robison
said there won't likely be a vote on it.
Robison called the WHL's recent decision to add a franchise in Chilliwack,
British Columbia, in 2006-07 "unexpected" given that when the Everett
Silvertips joined the league in 2003, the intention was to remain a 20-team
league with a balanced five teams per division.
Now, the league has to decide what direction it wants to go when the team
owners meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Calgary, Alberta, Robison said.
"If we were to contemplate further expansion, it would be highly unlikely
we'd do so at this meeting," he said Thursday. "It would probably be
revisited more in the fall."
The Edmonton Oilers have made it known for some time they want a WHL team,
either by purchasing one and moving it to the Alberta capital or via
expansion.
The NHL club's recent decision to suspend operations of its AHL team in that
city for next season was seen as a clearing of the way for a WHL franchise,
although the Oilers denied that was the reason.
"We really see Edmonton as an immediate priority as far as analyzing the
merits of their interest and how we might be able to accommodate them down
the road," Robison said.
Victoria, Nanaimo, B.C., Winnipeg and Grande Prairie, Alberta, have also
expressed interest in joining the WHL at different times.
Last month, the WHL approved the sale of the Tri-City Americans to a group
that included NHL players Stu Barnes and Olaf Kolzig, Americans GM Bob Tory
and local businessman Dennis Loman and, at the same time, granted an
expansion franchise in Chilliwack to the Americans' former ownership group
of Brian Burke, Glen Sather and Darryl Porter. Chilliwack begins play in
2006-07.
"It would be unlikely we would be expanding by two teams '06-07, but that is
part of the discussions," Robison said.
Robison said an expansion fee had yet to be established. He would not
confirm a recent published report putting the price at $2.2 million.
Saint John, New Brunswick, and St. John's, Newfoundland, recently joined the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for $3 million apiece.
The WHL won't go into an NHL market without the endorsement of the NHL team
and the Oilers have made it clear they won't endorse a major junior team in
their city unless they own it.
The most recent WHL team there in 1996, the Edmonton Ice, moved to
Cranbrook, B.C., after two seasons.
The Oilers were struggling financially at the time and the Save the Oilers
campaign drew interest away from the Ice.
Ice owner Ed Chynoweth, who made the decision to move to Cranbrook, is
chairman of the WHL's board of governors.
WHL rules may see some changes
» Expect some tweaking, but no radical changes, to the WHL rulebook for the
upcoming season.
WHL vice-president of hockey Richard Doerksen said the league's member teams
will be given five proposals for rule changes at the league's annual general
meeting.
» Of the five proposed changes, Doerksen said he is optimistic that two will
be made. The changes he would like to see ratified this year are the return
of the tag-up offside rule and goalies receiving a minor penalty for delay
of game if they freeze the puck unnecessarily.
» Doerksen said three other proposed changes include moving the goal-line
back, regulating the size of goaltender equipment and introducing a shootout
if a 5-minute, 4-on-4 overtime period does not decide the game in
regular-season play.
-Darren Steinke, Medicine Hat (Alberta) News
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Rule Changes
Originally Posted by rinkrat
