The seismic shift in Canadian hockey, led by B.C. leagues, continues as the 11 owners of the franchises in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League have voted unanimously to leave Hockey Canada and B.C. Hockey to go independent.
That follows a similar move made by the B.C. Hockey League last year. Two VIJHL team owners, who did not want to be identified, told the Times Colonist the VIJHL will affiliate with the BCHL beginning next season. Both leagues are Junior A but the VIJHL is level II and the BCHL level I in the hierarchy with the idea being for the VIJHL clubs to act as feeder teams to the BCHL, which annually produces numerous players who go on to play in the U.S. collegiate NCAA Div. 1, several of them who get selected in the NHL draft.
The affiliation will not be club-to-club but be on a universal basis with BCHL teams allowed to call up players from or send down players to any of the VIJHL teams.
The VIJHL issued a statement: “The VIJHL and its Governors/Owners decided, without influence [from the BCHL], to leave Hockey Canada and become independent. Since that decision was made, the VIJHL’s relationship with the BCHL has grown. This is a mutually beneficial agreement as the BCHL now has access to additional affiliate players in a high-quality league, right in their own province, while the VIJHL can give its players opportunities to further develop their game and eventually reach the next level of hockey”
The Lower Mainland-based Pacific Junior Hockey League and the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, equivalent Junior A Tier II leagues to the VIJHL, have not made moves to go independent.
“We felt it was in our best interest to follow a different route,” the VIJHL said in a statement.
The VIJHL also provided clarification about two prime issues, insurance and officiating, which are associated with the move to go independent and outside the umbrella of Hockey Canada and B.C. Hockey. About insurance, the VIJHL states: “The VIJHL’s new insurance provider provides coverage that is as good, if not better, than the previous one.”
As to officiating, the VIJHL stated: “We do not anticipate having a shortage of officials. Many have already shown their desire to work for independent leagues and the VIJHL expects much of the same.”
The VIJHL team owners contacted by the Times Colonist referred all questions to VIJHL president Simon Morgan, who released a statement: “This decision to move the VIJHL into a new space in junior hockey will allow players more opportunities for development going forward.”
B.C. Hockey expressed disappointment.
“It confuses and changes the eco-system and confuses the families of junior-age players,” said Cam Hope of Victoria, CEO of B.C. Hockey.
“But junior hockey leagues are running businesses and those goals don’t always fit with the delivery model of amateur hockey. We are a member organization. But as with if you don’t like a gym, you can join another gym. You don’t have to be a member. But we are always disappointed when [now former] members make decisions like this.”
ICE CHIPS: The Peninsula Panthers of the VIJHL have been sold by long-standing owners Pete and Coreen Zubersky to Rich Murphy of Minnesota, owner of the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL.
