The CEO of BC Hockey says he is 91裸聊视频渆xcited91裸聊视频� about the decision to reclassify the province91裸聊视频檚 three Junior B leagues to Junior A 91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频漌e91裸聊视频檙e going to let the ecosystem settle and just be mindful of everybody91裸聊视频檚 best pathway to end up where they want to be,91裸聊视频� Hope said. 91裸聊视频淭here are going to be some changes. These three leagues operate within specific geographical footprints because of how unique B.C. is.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to maintain that for now, but there91裸聊视频檚 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 we91裸聊视频檒l let it take its own path, we don91裸聊视频檛 want to force that and we don91裸聊视频檛 want to force the time either.91裸聊视频�
Hope also said he doesn91裸聊视频檛 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.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to take baby steps first, we91裸聊视频檙e going to let everybody crawl, then we91裸聊视频檙e going to get them all walking and those that don91裸聊视频檛 want to walk, and certainly those that don91裸聊视频檛 want to run, have the option of staying and just saying no, we91裸聊视频檙e not going to be able to do this.
91裸聊视频淏ut we want everybody to have the opportunity. So it91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚n terms of the Cyclone Taylor Cup, we91裸聊视频檙e open to suggestions on that one that91裸聊视频檚 on the list of things to figure out what to do,91裸聊视频� Hope said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a storied and historic part of B.C. Hockey and we have to figure that out.91裸聊视频�
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 BCHL91裸聊视频檚 departure.
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91裸聊视频淲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,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淯ltimately it91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淎nd so step by step, we91裸聊视频檒l get these leagues91裸聊视频n shape to knock on the door of the CJHL and be able to join that group, so they91裸聊视频檙e keenly interested.91裸聊视频�
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 don91裸聊视频檛 see.
91裸聊视频淭he things that are happening behind the scenes in terms of the standards for the player experience, which is where we91裸聊视频檙e focused here, and for that development path, are the things that are going to change,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淭hat will ultimately translate into players that are playing at a higher level, there91裸聊视频檒l be different standards in terms of how they91裸聊视频檙e travelling and how they91裸聊视频檙e practicing and whether or not that91裸聊视频檚 visible to the fans right away. I don91裸聊视频檛 know but it91裸聊视频檚 exciting.91裸聊视频�
paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
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