After two seasons in Squamish, the often unstable World Hockey Association (WHA) is leaving town and taking the popular Cougars team. But junior hockey fans' disappointment may be eased by the news the Pacific International Junior 'B' Hockey League (PIJHL) has announced its launch of a local franchise. Late last February, The Chief reported that the PIJHL was considering a local team. At the time, PIJHL president George Richards confirmed there have been "conversations" to that effect, but could not elaborate. On Monday (March 31), Cougars coach Matt Samson told The Chief a new team is on its way, and the league would retain him as coach."It's going to be a lot easier for me in a lot of different ways," said Samson. "And Squamish is a town that deserves a stable league, as they've shown they all support hockey, and I think this new league is going to give them exactly what they want."A new name, logo and team colours will be decided upon by next week, and after which residents can expect a team presence in the community. A short list of names at the moment includes The Storm, The Wolfpack and Grizzlies, said Samson. Matt's father Dean Samson is a principle in the team's ownership group, and said he approached the league with an enthusiastic and optimistic proposal."They wanted a prognosis of where they thought we'd be and I said 'Well, in three years we hope to be the strongest franchise in the league.'"The PIJHL was formed in 1981 and currently involves eight teams located in Port Moody, Ridge Meadows, Richmond, Vancouver, Hope, Abbotsford, and two from Delta. Matt said the team replacing the Cougars will be composed mostly of new recruits since the PIJHL is sanctioned by Hockey Canada, thus offering a much broader pool of skilled players. "We're working out an affiliation with Burnaby Express of the BC Hockey League, so we may get some of their late cuts, guys that are just about at the Junior 'A' level, but aren't quite there yet," he said. The WHA was labeled an "outlaw league" by Hockey Canada, and any player signing on with them would miss out on potential career benefits, including being called up to higher leagues. Dean said the new team intends to run along the same lines as a Junior 'A' team as a means of benefiting young players, the league and the team."I think we'll get a better quality for kids who are trying to prepare himself to maybe go beyond our league, get into the BCHL, which is the next tier up. There are a few kids also who are out of the PIJHL who made it to the NHL, so I think it'll make it more attractive to kids who are serious about it."Hockey Canada regulations also created a barrier between the Cougars and Squamish Minor Hockey, and that will no longer exist."The big thing for me is now we'll have this affiliation with Squamish Minor Hockey," said Matt. "Now there will be a close working relationship rather than the non-relationship the WHA created. We can draw from their players, we can work with their coaches and do clinics and be at their practices."Speculation is still swirling over the fate of the WHA, with some former insiders believing the league is about to fold.News of troubles within the WHA organization have been rampant since late in the first season, with media reports of host towns having to pursue the league for ice fees, and numerous schedule changes or cancelled games due to challenges with the cost of transporting teams.Late in February, the WHA narrowly salvaged the Cougars' Brennan Park Arena ice privileges by paying approximately $2,000 owed to the District of Squamish.
