Three Junior B hockey leagues in B.C. are set to become Junior A, Tier 2 this coming season and for the most part, the news is being met with celebration around Greater Victoria.
Norm Kelly, co-owner of the Saanich Predators, called the news B次元官网网址渇antasticB次元官网网址� and a long time coming for the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. He said it is a change that will mean a great deal for the players looking to hone their skills and position themselves for future career moves.
B次元官网网址淭he league itself has really elevated in the last few years, weB次元官网网址檝e shown ourselves B次元官网网址� all three of us, the VIJHL, the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, and the Pacific Junior Hockey League B次元官网网址� that we are some of the top leagues in the province,B次元官网网址� said Kelly. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really going to enhance the player experience, itB次元官网网址檚 going to really increase the class of play, and it means players are going to really be looked at by tier one, tier two, tier three colleges in the United States.B次元官网网址�
The reclassification, which comes on the heels of the Junior A BCHL separating from Hockey Canada to become an independent league, is expected to both attract more B.C. players who may have been considering leaving the province to play high-level junior hockey, and provide more opportunities for them to further their career.
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He said while the Predators already have an affiliate relationship with the WHLB次元官网网址檚 Victoria Royals, having sent several of their players up to the major junior league last season, being classified as Junior A will increase those opportunities.
Kelly also feels the strengthened VIJHL, which also includes VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Cougars and the Westshore Wolves, will have a positive impact on the lower U-18 leagues in the region, raising the collective skill level and development opportunities across the board.
While the excitement over the news is still there for Pete Zubersky and the Peninsula Panthers, he said his organization is taking a more B次元官网网址渃autiously optimisticB次元官网网址� approach for the first few seasons while the transition is being made.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be really interesting thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure,B次元官网网址� the Panthers owner said of the reclassification. B次元官网网址淚 think that our group is excited about it, and I know the players are already excited about it B次元官网网址� but I think the best thing to do is to take it slow, be patient, and not make any mistakes and just see how this plays out a little bit.B次元官网网址�
Zubersky said major changes, like pursuing the Junior A, Tier 1 ranking now available through the reclassification, will come with significant required changes for the teams as an organization, including higher budget requirements and significantly increased travel.
The push to reclassify was made in recognition of the void for higher-level junior hockey sanctioned by Hockey Canada in the province following the BCHLB次元官网网址檚 move to become an independent league. The move was unanimously approved by BC Hockey and the 45-member organizations of the three affected leagues.
The upcoming season will be played within the formerly Junior B league structures, with each league eventually announcing further details on future changes. Teams which later achieve Tier 1 status will be able to seek membership with the Canadian Junior Hockey League and become eligible to compete in the Centennial Cup.
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