The CEO of BC Hockey says he is 香蕉视频直播渆xcited香蕉视频直播� about the decision to reclassify the province香蕉视频直播檚 three Junior B leagues to Junior A 香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播漌e香蕉视频直播檙e going to let the ecosystem settle and just be mindful of everybody香蕉视频直播檚 best pathway to end up where they want to be,香蕉视频直播� Hope said. 香蕉视频直播淭here are going to be some changes. These three leagues operate within specific geographical footprints because of how unique B.C. is.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to maintain that for now, but there香蕉视频直播檚 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 we香蕉视频直播檒l let it take its own path, we don香蕉视频直播檛 want to force that and we don香蕉视频直播檛 want to force the time either.香蕉视频直播�
Hope also said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to take baby steps first, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to let everybody crawl, then we香蕉视频直播檙e going to get them all walking and those that don香蕉视频直播檛 want to walk, and certainly those that don香蕉视频直播檛 want to run, have the option of staying and just saying no, we香蕉视频直播檙e not going to be able to do this.
香蕉视频直播淏ut we want everybody to have the opportunity. So it香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚n terms of the Cyclone Taylor Cup, we香蕉视频直播檙e open to suggestions on that one that香蕉视频直播檚 on the list of things to figure out what to do,香蕉视频直播� Hope said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a storied and historic part of B.C. Hockey and we have to figure that out.香蕉视频直播�
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 BCHL香蕉视频直播檚 departure.
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香蕉视频直播淲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,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淯ltimately it香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淎nd so step by step, we香蕉视频直播檒l get these leagues香蕉视频直播n shape to knock on the door of the CJHL and be able to join that group, so they香蕉视频直播檙e keenly interested.香蕉视频直播�
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 don香蕉视频直播檛 see.
香蕉视频直播淭he things that are happening behind the scenes in terms of the standards for the player experience, which is where we香蕉视频直播檙e focused here, and for that development path, are the things that are going to change,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淭hat will ultimately translate into players that are playing at a higher level, there香蕉视频直播檒l be different standards in terms of how they香蕉视频直播檙e travelling and how they香蕉视频直播檙e practicing and whether or not that香蕉视频直播檚 visible to the fans right away. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know but it香蕉视频直播檚 exciting.香蕉视频直播�
paul.rodgers@kimberleybulletin
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