OT: 5 AJHL Teams Leave for BCHL

[Heavy Dee]

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[Jimmi McJenkins]

Should probably work, I wonder how the cost of travel impacts over time

 

[HockeyGuy1964]

Could somebody explain to me how this makes sense in any way?

 

[bellagiobob]

Could somebody explain to me how this makes sense in any way?

BCHL isn’t under Hockey Canada’s umbrella anymore. Better for recruiting (more options, less restrictions) should be better competition, potential for increased revenue for teams. Happening a lot at younger levels, super leagues outside of HC control popping up. Can’t say I blame them.

 

[HockeyGuy1964]

BCHL isn’t under Hockey Canada’s umbrella anymore. Better for recruiting (more options, less restrictions) should be better competition, potential for increased revenue for teams. Happening a lot at younger levels, super leagues outside of HC control popping up. Can’t say I blame them.

But the travel will be insane, no?
These are still mostly kids in school.

 

[bellagiobob]

But the travel will be insane, no?
These are still mostly kids in school.

Generally the majority of the players are post high school age. Likely will be more travel, but don’t know yet how the divisional play will work, maybe not a full interlocking schedule. This is for serious kids who either want to go the college route or play pro. Other leagues are closely watching this, could be more teams going this route.

 

[Stealth1616]

But the travel will be insane, no?
These are still mostly kids in school.

No different than major junior age, and that travel is way worse. Assume they will run it so that the Alberta teams play each other a lot.

Pretty interesting stuff, waters down the Alberta league quite a bit. Wonder how long until the merger with the SJ

 

[brentashton]

Generally the majority of the players are post high school age. Likely will be more travel, but don’t know yet how the divisional play will work, maybe not a full interlocking schedule. This is for serious kids who either want to go the college route or play pro. Other leagues are closely watching this, could be more teams going this route.

True. However the main reason for the BCJHL breaking from HC (scandals aside) was to facilitate the recruiting of 16-17 year old players from areas outside the provincial boundaries, without strong tier 2 junior leagues. So the impact remains on school aged athletes.

 

[sepHF]

https://x.com/JasonGregor/status/1748848205125820744?s=20

 

[bellagiobob]

True. However the main reason for the BCJHL breaking from HC (scandals aside) was to facilitate the recruiting of 16-17 year old players from areas outside the provincial boundaries, without strong tier 2 junior leagues. So the impact remains on school aged athletes.

Ya, I had mentioned that in my first post, that recruitment was one of the key points in why the AJ teams are wanting to do this. Should be interesting how this ends up, this is just in its infancy.

 

[bellagiobob]

That will help with recruitment.

 

[brentashton]

That will help with recruitment.

Right?

Children and childish actions. Sad that they all probably talk about growing the players to be stand up, young men. Can’t even be that themselves in a moment of difference and crisis.

Members clubs not advising the league if their intent before the other league issues a press release so then the AJHL matches that childish move by cancelling games. Lots of animosity here.

 

[GMofOilers]

This doesn’t make much sense at all.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

That will help with recruitment.

Shameful.

They punished the players who are working hard trying to get scholarships or just want to grow as a hockey player.

 

[PBandJ]

I think cancelling games is pretty petty, but so is not even informing the league before your new league issues a press release.

Children, the lot of them. I don't blame the AJHL for being absolutely livid.

 

[BarDownBobo]

 

[DoyleG]

Don't fault the AJHL on this, the way people are finding out about this change is very crass and unprofessional.

Odd that some see this as a benefit as, when one looks at a BCHL roster, it is the local players that are getting squeezed. Looking at the roster, it's not unusual to see the number of foreign players in the double digits, then you count the players that are from outside of BC.

 

[bellagiobob]

Don't fault the AJHL on this, the way people are finding out about this change is very crass and unprofessional.

Odd that some see this as a benefit as, when one looks at a BCHL roster, it is the local players that are getting squeezed. Looking at the roster, it's not unusual to see the number of foreign players in the double digits, then you count the players that are from outside of BC.

The AJ has changed over the years, no longer just the local kids on the team. Our team (Cru) only has one local player on the roster, and 10 players from outside the province. The whole thing is just a mess right now.

This also isn’t anything new, there have been rumours for years about this. The league even addressed it back in 2021.

BCHL Today: AJHL shoots down reports of teams leaving for the BCHL, and more – BCHLNetwork

bchlnetwork.ca

 

[DoyleG]

The AJ has changed over the years, no longer just the local kids on the team. Our team (Cru) only has one local player on the roster, and 10 players from outside the province. The whole thing is just a mess right now.

This also isn’t anything new, there have been rumours for years about this. The league even addressed it back in 2021.

BCHL Today: AJHL shoots down reports of teams leaving for the BCHL, and more – BCHLNetwork

bchlnetwork.ca

That's still better than a lot of BCHL teams that have the largest share of players on their rosters from OUTSIDE CANADA.

The problem is that the teams seemed to have decided to do this behind the backs of the AJHL. Okotoks was slated to host the Centennial Cup in '25 and still went ahead with it. The AJ has every right to react this way when teams have stated in public they weren't interested in the BCHL scheme.

Now, they've gotten themselves suspended, which is likely to void agreements with communities for arena use and with their sponsors. Even more so if they decide to put new franchises in other communities that have been looked at for a long time.

St Albert feels they have learned the lessons to have another shot. Fort Sask certainly would want back in, and Leduc is still chomping at the bit. That's just for the northern teams that are out one way or another.

 

[bellagiobob]

That's still better than a lot of BCHL teams that have the largest share of players on their rosters from OUTSIDE CANADA.

The problem is that the teams seemed to have decided to do this behind the backs of the AJHL. Okotoks was slated to host the Centennial Cup in '25 and still went ahead with it. The AJ has every right to react this way when teams have stated in public they weren't interested in the BCHL scheme.

Now, they've gotten themselves suspended, which is likely to void agreements with communities for arena use and with their sponsors. Even more so if they decide to put new franchises in other communities that have been looked at for a long time.

St Albert feels they have learned the lessons to have another shot. Fort Sask certainly would want back in, and Leduc is still chomping at the bit. That's just for the northern teams that are out one way or another.

My view is if it’s not local kids on the team, then I prefer to watch the best available players at that level. For Okotoks to give up Cen Cup, that tells you how much they were willing to lose to get out. I don’t have much nice to say about HC, so understand why the grassroots leagues are sprouting up.

 

[Green Xero]

I'm assuming the rules for the AB teams will be the same as the rest. 25 man roster. Minimum 13 Canadians. 5 must be from home province or state. Max of 2 players from outside N.A.. Since they have specific rulings already for US based teams I'm guessing more expansion is coming and It will soon be a Western League not just BC.

 

[DoyleG]

My view is if it’s not local kids on the team, then I prefer to watch the best available players at that level. For Okotoks to give up Cen Cup, that tells you how much they were willing to lose to get out. I don’t have much nice to say about HC, so understand why the grassroots leagues are sprouting up.

If you think the BCHL scheme is "grassroots" then you are going to have some problems.

It has nothing to do with HC but is about a bunch of big men in BC trying to make up for their small wieners.

 

[rboomercat90]

Delete- wrong thread.

 

[bellagiobob]

If you think the BCHL scheme is "grassroots" then you are going to have some problems.

It has nothing to do with HC but is about a bunch of big men in BC trying to make up for their small wieners.

Grassroots in the sense that it’s the first big league to get away from HC’s clutches, so a pioneer in that way. We will disagree about the HC reasoning. But a lot of younger age groups are breaking away from the old HC model and doing a really good job.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

I thought this was an interesting bit of info if true. Seems like Hockey Canada as we know it is starting to implode