|
NPHL accepts Dawson Creek Canucks into league
Chris Clegg
Express staff
The Dawson Creek Canucks will be back in the North Peace Hockey League next season.
The league’s teams voted the Canucks into the league at its spring meeting in Fairview April 14. The vote was not disclosed.
Canucks’ president Gene Cooper, and vice-presidents Brant Leer and Aaron Powell, attended the meeting as a delegation. After their short presentation, teams discussed the matter behind closed doors before voting.
Leer spoke on behalf of the Canucks. He said the team was formed last season and tied to play exhibition games to no avail. He cited a list of 30 players, which he presented to the league, and said they were financially sound.
“Why come back?” asked NPHL president Jack McAvoy.
“To continue operating as a hockey franchise,” replied Leer. He also cited the tradition between the Canucks and Fort St. John, Hythe, Grande Prairie and Spirit River.
Leer also addressed the possibility of an East and West Division split, adding they were willing to go with whatever the league decided.
Later, after accepting the Canucks, the league decided to go with two divisions and interlock only one total game with each club. The West will be comprised of Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Grande Prairie, Hythe and Spirit River while the East will be comprised of Fairview, Falher, High Prairie, Lakeland, Peace River and Valleyview.
The Canucks’ re-entry comes after a three-year hiatus. They last played in the NPHL in 2005-06 and placed last in the West Division with a 3-19-1-1 record. The Canucks won two straight championships in 2001-02 and 2002-03 and won the Lawrence Cup, awarded to the league’s first place team in the regular season, in 1998-999 and 2001-02.
The Hines Creek Oilers, who were also considering a bid to enter the NPHL, did not attend the meeting.
Copyright © 1999-2009 Smoky River Express. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.
View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster
|
