Penticton Vees & Chilliwack Chiefs
March 24 - that ownership of the Penticton Vees has
acquired a Western Hockey League (WHL) expansion team,
beginning in the 2025-26 season, and the City of
Chilliwack has been identified as a WHL expansion
location for 2026-27. Vees ownership will retain its
membership in the BCHL and will look to relocate in the
near future, while the Chiefs organization, who had no
involvement in the city's WHL expansion process,
remains committed to the BCHL and has already formally
indicated they will play in the league in 2025-26,
expressing their commitment beyond that as well.
The BCHL Board of Governors Annual General Meeting
(AGM) May 29 and 30 in Richmond, B.C.
Education Initiatives
The governors discussed the league's new Academic
Readiness Program, designed to be the gold standard for
preparing student athletes for the classroom.
The program focuses on team and league mandates,
academic partnerships, as well as the league's track
record as the number-one producer of collegiate
athletes in all of Canada. It aims to ensure every BCHL
athlete has the necessary resources and support to
succeed on and off the ice.
Further details about the Academic Readiness Program
will be shared in a follow-up release.
League Growth
The Board of Governors discussed in detail plans to
continue league growth through expansion and increase
the BCHL's reach throughout Western Canada and the
Pacific Northwest.
While no expansion franchise is imminent, the Governors
reiterated their desire to add franchises in the near
future, as well as a plan to implement a long-term
growth strategy, while ensuring the on-ice product
remains strong.
This will include working with current members who wish
to relocate their franchise.
Executive of the Year
For the second year in a row, Trail Smoke Eaters owner
and Chairman of the Board of Governors Rich Murphy was
voted by his peers as the Executive of the Year.
Along with his wife Annie, the Murphys have owned the
Smoke Eaters since 2016. 2024-25 was his first season
as Board Chair after he was elected to the position at
the 2024 AGM.
Marketer of the Year
After a tie in voting, the 2024-25 Marketer of the Year
award went to two individuals - Barry Douglas of the
Chilliwack Chiefs and Todd Miller of the Vernon Vipers.
Douglas started with the Chiefs organization in the
1994-95 season when he was their colour commentator on
broadcasts and is now the team's Governor and Vice
President of Business Operations. This is the third
time he has won this award.
Miller, who is the team's Executive Vice President and
Alternate Governor, has been with the Vipers
organization since 2003. This is the second time he has
been named Marketer of the Year, after winning last
season as well.
Standards Scorecard
The Board approved several updates to the BCHL's
Standards Scorecard, after gathering feedback from
across the league. Introduced in 2021, the scorecard
acts as a measurable to gauge team operations on and
off the ice and has resulted in a significant increase
of quality around the BCHL. Teams have added arena
features like high-quality video boards and in-game
video review capabilities, while also making
improvements to team facilities like dressing rooms,
team gyms and more to enhance the development resources
available to BCHL athletes.
Alliance Leagues
The league approved a formal affiliation and
development agreement with the Junior Prospects Hockey
League (JPHL) that will facilitate player movement
between the two leagues more freely, in order to
provide eligible athletes with more opportunities for
development and injury rehabilitation.
The BCHL is also excited to build upon a successful
first year working with the Vancouver Island Junior
Hockey League (VIJHL) through their affiliation
agreement and will once again host them at league
events next season to provide exposure in front of BCHL
and other junior league scouts.
Strategic Planning
The Board passed two separate five-year strategic plans
at the AGM.
The first is a five-year Communications Plan that will
see the BCHL focus on investing in and modernizing
communications, while also leaning on more of an
analytics-based approach when it comes to decision
making.
The Board also passed a five-year plan for Officiating
and the Department of Player Safety, analyzing current
strengths and opportunities and setting measurable
goals for the future growth of both programs.
Committee Elections
The following members were elected to league committees
at the AGM.
- Executive Committee
- Mike Hawes (Prince George)
John Dewar (Cowichan Valley)
- Competition Committee
- Brendan Kenny (Spruce Grove)
Competition Committee Chair Position Mike Hawes
(Prince George)
- Franchise Committee
- David Michaud (Victoria)
Franchise Committee Chair Position Rich Murphy
(Trail)
- Marketing Committee
- Shane Muche (Langley)
- Futures Committee
- Stefanie Weber (Alberni Valley)
League Staffing
Formerly the Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner
before that, Chris Hebb has shifted his role to Chief
Strategic Officer, focusing on bigger picture league
items as well as sponsorship.