I took some advice and decided to take a look at a map... Matching numbers mean rivalry
WCHL
64 games
6 20 year-olds
4 can play each given night
Teams play every team twice, division 4 Times, Rival 6 Times
Western Conference
West Division
Alberni Valley Bulldogs 1
Chilliwack Chiefs 1
Langley Rivermen 2
Surrey Eagles 2
North Division
Salmon Arm Silverbacks 1
Penticton Vees 2
Prince George Spruce Kings 1
Vernon Vipers 2
East Division
Canada U18 1
Drumheller Dragons 2
Okotooks Oilers 1
Brooks Bandits 2
Eastern Conference
North
Camrose Kodiaks 1
Fort Mcmurray Oil Barons 2
Grande Prairie Storm 2
Lloydminster Bobcats 1
North Division
Battleford North Stars 1
Humboldt Broncos 2
Melfort Mustangs 2
Notre Dame Hounds 1
South Division
Estevan Bruins 1
Melville Millionaires 2
Weyburn Red Wings 1
Yorkton Terriors 2
Suppliers And Suppliers
Esso (Cheap Gas)
Mr. Sub (Cheap Meals)
Wyndham Hotels (Cheap Hotel)
Gatorade (Drinks and Bottles)
Canadian Tire (Tape)
Molson Coors (Cheap Beer)
BC Ferries (Cheap Ferry Service)
Ticketmaster (Tickets)
Boston Pizza (Cheap Meals)
Smitty's (Cheap Meals)
Telus (Advertising)
Sobeys/IGA (Cheep Groceries)
Labbatt Bud (Cheep Beer)
Credit Union (Advertising)
Sport Select (Advertising)
Co-op (Everything)
Kal Tire (Maintenence)
Home Hardware (Advertising)
Dodge (Advertising)
Chevrolet (Advertising)
Ford (Advertising)
Taking a look at your sponsors, I did some quick research based on your proposed teams and here's a problem with your choices for sponsorship.
Mr. Sub only has locations in Surrey, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Yorkton. Also, in BC IGA is a different company than Sobeys and Sobeys are virtually non-existent in BC. Credit Unions would be the biggest issue as unlike the Big 5 banks, Credit Unions are not a chain but rather independent companies. Thus, the league wouldn't be able to have the sponsorship of "the Credit Union" as that doesn't exist.
Also, unless the idea is to have games televised, which is unlikely on a leaguewide basis, why would these national companies sponsor the league? I doubt say Molson Coors would sponsor the league simply to supply beer to the arenas. Also, I assume most of the arenas are controlled by the cities the teams are based in. Thus, switching brands isn't that simple. When dealing with any level of government, tendering must be done and the best deal (i.e. the cheapest) is what the city goes for. This is done to ensure that the local government isn't favouring their buddies.
Also, a league like this would be seen as a competitor to the Canadian Hockey League or at least the Western Hockey League. So current WHL sponsors (which get better play for their money through televised games on Shaw and Sportsnet) would not want to ruffle those feathers by sponsoring what seems to be a rival league.
Lastly, I reiterate a point made previously, where is the money going to come from for the teams to do the increased travel? I'm assuming in most of the existing leagues (the BCHL might be different due to the size of it), travel does not include an overnight stay. I would assume only the games in Fort McMurray and possibly Grande Prairie see AJHL teams spend the night. This is only done because the teams play two game series in those places. Otherwise, I assume for road games that are near your home city, you take the bus home. If you have a road game the next night in another city, likely they drive through the night to the next one. Seems to me that is what the AJHL teams who come to Lloydminster seem to do.
As well, many of these teams are run on shoestring budgets. The owners do not have the extra capital like in the CHL to suddenly decide to now include games in another province. My assumption is that is why the AJHL, SJHL, MJHL and BCHL decided to scrap the regional cup tournaments and move to the Western Canada Cup. It allows for the teams to save on travel. I also assume that the host committee and Hockey Canada pick up the travel costs to the RBC Cup.
From a Lloydminster stand point, the Bobcats are owned by the community, when the team was about to move, the City of Lloydminster stepped in and organized a drive to save the team. Anyone wishing to buy shares (but also realize they were on the hook for losses) could do so for $250 I believe. I believe 11 groups stepped up and bought the equivalent shares to allow for the team to remain in Lloydminster. I doubt these owners would be looking to move the team to a new league with higher costs.
The last issue with this is that while in your mind, this concept would fly, I doubt the leagues would see this. Much like in the late 60s/early 70s when the Western Hockey League was in its infancy, this league would have to breakaway from Hockey Canada to be formed. Since each of these leagues are operated by the Provincial hockey associations, it would mean that in essence Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia would no longer be members of Hockey Canada. What this would mean is that the Telus Cup, Midget AAA tournament would not have any participants west of Manitoba, nor would the Allan Cup or any other Hockey Canada sanctioned tournament.
Lastly, if Hockey Canada were to be on board with this as you envision, what happens to the teams that aren't "picked" to be in this league? Much like when the WHA was accepted into the NHL, these other teams would have to be paid to fold. I don't see teams paying to do this.
If the idea is that the AJHL, SJHL and BCHL would continue without the remaining teams. I doubt Manitoba east would be too happy about suddenly being demoted for a Western Canada based league. For the CJHL to continue but for your WCHL to exist, the junior hockey system would need to be revamped.
The CHL would continue being Major Junior, but what do you do with the WCHL? Certainly, a league like this would be a higher caliber than the remnants of the BCHL, AJHL and SJHL, so the WCHL would then be Junior A. So this would mean the CJHL would become Junior B and so on and so forth.
However, this causes an issue since the WCHL and the Manitoba east version of the CJHL would be equivalent talent levels more or less (since the WCHL wouldn't be able to recruit outside of BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan). Thus, you would see those leagues become upset and the CJHL would fall apart. Leaving the SJHL, BCHL and AJHL without any sort of umbrella league/national playoff structure. The rest of the country would no doubt attempt to join up with the WCHL for national playoff purposes. So really, what was the point of all of this aside from remove junior hockey from some cities.
On a totally different tangent, where would Canada's U18 team come from? There is no permanent national team as the team is made up of CHL players who do not make the playoffs. I really doubt players like Connor McDavid would say he'd rather not play in the OHL for Erie and become a surefire NHL prospect because he wants to play in a lower level league on Canada's U18 team. I hate to break it to you, but wearing the Canadian jersey doesn't mean much to these players, if it means they may not have as good a shot at the NHL. Essentially, what you are suggesting is making the CHL a 18-19 year old league, as the best U18 players would be playing for Team Canada's U18 team in the WCHL. I don't see the CHL agreeing to this.
As the CHL isn't directly governed by Hockey Canada, they could decide that they don't need any agreement with Hockey Canada, which in reality they don't. Thus, Hockey Canada would rule the CHL a rebel league and ban all players from participating in Hockey Canada sanctioned leagues. Therefore, the Canadian U20 team would no longer feature the CHL players as they are ineligible due to the sanctions by Hockey Canada. You can bet that TSN would be raising hell with Hockey Canada for this garbage, as it would kill their money cow.
If Hockey Canada, so chose, they could also forbid CHL rebels from joining any Hockey Canada sanctioned teams. Thus, players could no longer player for the senior team at the Worlds nor the Olympics. Most 15/16 year olds would not see this and would see NHL stardom as their first choice. So the CHL would continue getting the same players it always did.
The CHL would continue on its merry way, as the NHL keeps the league going through development and the ownership groups have deep pockets that would allow it to continue without any agreement with Hockey Canada. So as you see the WCHL could destabilize hockey in Canada as we know it.
The only reason the USNDT exists in the USHL is that for American players, the NCAA is a better route to the NHL than the CHL is many times. Thus, they agree to play in the USHL as it ensures their eligibility in the NCAA. From what I know about Canadian players, the CHL is the "show" and you want to play Major Junior. If you aren't good enough for the "show" then you consider the CJHL and the NCAA. Sure, there are a few who decide education is important and they want to play in the NCAA. But for the vast majority, the CHL drafts are what they are playing for and the goal is to play in the WHL/OHL/QMJHL, not the NCAA.
