Western hockey leagues unite for new development program

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This article was published 23/07/2024 (293 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ties between the Western Hockey League (WHL) and junior A leagues have gotten a little stronger, as Hockey Canada announced the Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM).

The model was proposed to Hockey Canada by the four provinces in conjunction with junior A leagues in each province and the WHL.

As part of the pilot program, the leagues will have a consistent rule-set and increased roster flexibility for young players in the WHL. All 15-year-old affiliate players will now be able to play up to 10 games with their WHL, the same as 16-year-olds. Western Hockey League teams will also be able to list a single 16-year-old who is playing either provincial U18, collegiate or junior A to be able to play 15 games at the major junior level.

Pat McLaughlin, the chief operating officer and executive vice-president of strategy for Hockey Canada said the pilot program was a sign of unity between Hockey Canada and the groups who are participating in the pilot.

“We all must continue to evolve to meet the needs of Canadians looking to participate in our national winter sport in a system that operates with an athlete-centred approach and ensures their development and safety on and off the ice is at the forefront of everything we do,” McLaughlin said in a news release.

In 2023 the B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) announced it was leaving Hockey Canada to operate as an independent league and are not part of the pilot program, although the sanctioned leagues inside B.C. are.

“Establishing this pilot project is a very important part of the exciting steps being taken to evolve our junior hockey pathways in Western Canada, and the initiative will provide our players with even more opportunity and flexibility in their development,” Cameron Hope, the chief executive officer of BC Hockey, said.

“We look forward to the coming season and working together with our junior A leagues, the WHL and Hockey Canada to ensure the sanctioned junior hockey system continues to strengthen and flourish in our branch and beyond.”

Dan Near, the WHL’s commissioner, called the pilot program an “unprecedented collaboration,” and touted the changes as good for players.

“Each of these organizations share a common priority – developing players on and off the ice,” Near said.

“The Western Hockey League sits atop the development pyramid for elite players in the West and we will always look for ways to enhance our delivery to players and their families.”

B.C. isn’t the only province to deal with teams leaving the Hockey Canada ecosystem. Five teams from the Alberta Junior Hockey League announced they would be joining the BCHL earlier this season.

“This collaboration resets the foundation for developmental opportunities for athletes across Western Canada,” AJHL commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk said.

“As a unified group, we can proactively approach the dynamic nature of our game while adapting and evolving over the duration of this initiative and beyond. We are appreciative of the trust placed in our collective hands and thank the Hockey Canada Board and staff for their support.”

Marty Murray is the general manager of Manitoba’s only WHL franchise, the Brandon Wheat Kings. In an interview with the Brandon Sun, he noted the team had trouble icing a full line-up last year, and these rules will give the team more flexibility to get enough players on the ice.

“It’s different if you’re in Calgary or other major markets where it’s accessible, but in Brandon it’s a little harder to get to,” Murray said.

“A lot of times you don’t have a week or two to prepare on maybe calling up an affiliate. It’s kind of by the day. To have that ability to call up multiple players at a given time just provides some flexibility for us.”

Murray added there were times throughout the season where they considered calling up the standout 15-year-old Jaxon Jacobson, but didn’t because the team didn’t want to burn any games of his eligibility.

“With the world we’re living in right now, everyone wants to fast track,” Murray said.

“One thing we have to be care of at our level is the players physically and mentally are ready to be put in that position. You have to be really careful when you’re dealing with 15-year-old kids and bringing them into play against 18-, 19-, 20-year-old men, if they’re ready for it.

The project will be reviewed throughout the season, and the news release notes the scope is expected to expand in future years.

As part of the rule-changes in the pilot, players who are 18 or older as of Dec. 31 of the current season can wear visors over full-face shields, undoing a recent rule change in junior A leagues. Players under 18 still require full protection. The junior A leagues have now adopted the WHL rule-book in full, with exceptions for player’s benches, game broadcast, video review and fighting related rules.

Fighting in a junior A league will still result in a game misconduct penalty, following Hockey Canada rules.

With files from Perry Bergson