The CEO of BC Hockey says he is B次元官网网址渆xcitedB次元官网网址� about the decision to reclassify the provinceB次元官网网址檚 three Junior B leagues to Junior A B次元官网网址� Tier 2.
Cameron Hope fielded questions in a press conference about the decision on Tuesday, July 25 following the announcement.
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The decision affects 45 teams in three leagues: 20 in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), 14 in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) and 11 in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL).
There are still many details that need to be ironed out, Hope said.
One of the main things discussed is the opportunity for these newly designated Tier 2 teams to pursue Junior A - Tier 1 designation.
B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檙e going to let the ecosystem settle and just be mindful of everybodyB次元官网网址檚 best pathway to end up where they want to be,B次元官网网址� Hope said. B次元官网网址淭here are going to be some changes. These three leagues operate within specific geographical footprints because of how unique B.C. is.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to maintain that for now, but thereB次元官网网址檚 no question that as clubs strive quickly to become Tier 1 and be ready to take on more, there may be a reshuffle there, so weB次元官网网址檒l let it take its own path, we donB次元官网网址檛 want to force that and we donB次元官网网址檛 want to force the time either.B次元官网网址�
Hope also said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 think every franchise will want to step up and ask to be evaluated to Tier 1, partially due to increased costs associated with the enhanced standards Tier 1 designation will have, in terms of practice and travel.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to take baby steps first, weB次元官网网址檙e going to let everybody crawl, then weB次元官网网址檙e going to get them all walking and those that donB次元官网网址檛 want to walk, and certainly those that donB次元官网网址檛 want to run, have the option of staying and just saying no, weB次元官网网址檙e not going to be able to do this.
B次元官网网址淏ut we want everybody to have the opportunity. So itB次元官网网址檚 not just about raising standards and raising player experience, it is about the reality of some of the communities and some of the less-funded franchises to decide whether or not they want to take a deep breath and take a deep plunge.B次元官网网址�
Another uncertainty that still needs to be determined is the future of the Cyclone Taylor Cup, the championship these three leagues compete for each year.
B次元官网网址淚n terms of the Cyclone Taylor Cup, weB次元官网网址檙e open to suggestions on that one thatB次元官网网址檚 on the list of things to figure out what to do,B次元官网网址� Hope said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a storied and historic part of B.C. Hockey and we have to figure that out.B次元官网网址�
The application for Junior A status came after the BC Hockey League decided to leave Hockey Canada to become independent, leaving a Junior A void in B.C.
Hockey Canada and the Western Hockey League (WHL), Hope said, have been very receptive to this reclassification, as it keeps a credible pathway within sanctioned hockey very soon after BCHLB次元官网网址檚 departure.
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B次元官网网址淲e have a lot of players that they hope will end up in the WHL in our system, and that development path is critical to them,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淯ltimately itB次元官网网址檚 not a good thing to have a big, strong branch like ours out here in B.C. not represented at the Centennial Cup and not represented nationally.
B次元官网网址淎nd so step by step, weB次元官网网址檒l get these leaguesB次元官网网址n shape to knock on the door of the CJHL and be able to join that group, so theyB次元官网网址檙e keenly interested.B次元官网网址�
In terms of what fans can expect this coming season when they go see their local teams play, Hope said the changes are mainly going to be things the fans donB次元官网网址檛 see.
B次元官网网址淭he things that are happening behind the scenes in terms of the standards for the player experience, which is where weB次元官网网址檙e focused here, and for that development path, are the things that are going to change,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭hat will ultimately translate into players that are playing at a higher level, thereB次元官网网址檒l be different standards in terms of how theyB次元官网网址檙e travelling and how theyB次元官网网址檙e practicing and whether or not thatB次元官网网址檚 visible to the fans right away. I donB次元官网网址檛 know but itB次元官网网址檚 exciting.B次元官网网址�
paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
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