This is posted on Brian Wiebe's Blog:Littler Writes Column on Wild Joining the BCHL
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Wenatchee Wild GM and Head Coach Bliss Littler pens a column for the website JuniorHockey.com occasionally and his most recent one highlights the team's acceptance as an expansion franchise into the BCHL. It answers a number of questions about junior A hockey in Canada and the BCHL's rules.
This is posted on the Juniorhockey.com website:
COACH'S NOTES: Wenatchee Wild are in the BCHL - Junior Hockey News
Published: Thursday, 11 Jun 2015
By: Bliss Littler
After many years of trying to get approval to join the British Columbia Hockey League it has finally happened and for all the right reasons.
I would like to thank USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, BC Amateur, and the BCHL board of governors as well as Wenatchee Wild owner David White for getting this situation right.
David White had the vision, patience, smarts, communication skills and the financing to get this deal done. I have worked for some of the best owners on junior hockey from Ted Baer in Tri City/Omaha USHL, to Butch Johnson in Billings and Topeka USHL, and Eric Bonanno in Billings NAHL/AWHL. David White as an owner has treated his players and staff as well if not better than any place I have coached.
Having coached junior hockey all over the country in the United States Hockey League and North American Hockey League I can say that Wenatchee Washington and the Wenatchee Wild are a very special place to play your junior hockey.
From the beautiful city of Wenatchee WA, the fan support of 3,000 fans per night, the outstanding building to play in, the relationship with building management, the quality of the housing families, the education system, the locker room, the strength coach as well as the training facility and the reputation as a place that moves players on to college hockey.
The Wild have helped move over 70 players on to division one college hockey over the last seven years while being members of the NAHL. The Wild hope to increase these numbers as members of the BCHL.
Wenatchee is in the footprint of the BCHL. Most trips are in the three to five hour range. Since being approved we have fielded many questions that I would like to address.
Is the BCHL Tier 2? No, in Canada they have Major Junior which is the CHL. Then they have Junior A and Junior B. The BCHL is Junior A. This is the top level of junior hockey in Canada that keeps a players NCAA eligibility. The Wild will follow all Tier One requirements that the USHL does for how it treats its players.
Will the Wild play with Canadian players? The Wild can have up to four Canadians on its roster just like the USHL.
Can the Wild have a 98 or 99 birth year play for the Wild this year? Absolutely as long as they come from the states of California, Washington, Colorado, or Missouri.
Can the Wild have players from other states that are not California, Washington, Colorado, or Missouri play for the Wild? The answer is yes as long as they are 95, 96, or a 97 birth year.
Do the Wild provide all equipment? Yes the Wild do provide all equipment.
Do the Wild provide sticks? Yes the Wild do provide all sticks for the players.
Do the Wild pay for the players housing? Yes the Wild do take care of the housing for the player just like the USHL.
How many imports do the Wild get? The answer is eight.
How big is the roster? 22 which is one less than the USHL/NAHL
If a player plays for the Wild one season is that player considered an import the next season? The answer is no. After you play a year in the BCHL as an import the next year you are classified as a non-import.
If a player played last year in the USHL or NAHL and wants to come to Wenatchee does the player have to be traded to come to Wenatchee? If he comes before he plays a regular season game this upcoming year the answer is no. Wenatchee pays a release fee and its done. If the player wants to come after he has played a regular season game this year then the Wild would have to work out a trade.
Can a player playing Junior A hockey in Canada come to Wenatchee? The answer is no he would have to be traded to Wenatchee if he is playing in a Junior A league in Canada.
We feel that we take care of everything for the player that the USHL does. We feel here in Wenatchee we follow all Tier one regulations that the USHL has to follow for its players.
Wenatchee has a goal of becoming one of the best franchises in all of junior hockey at any level. We want to attract the best players in North America to play for the Wild. We feel that Wenatchee moving into the BCHL will become a destination for elite American and Canadian players. The Wenatchee Wild organization, its players, and its fans could not be more excited about this move. Cant wait for September.
You can follow me on twitter @blisslittler
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