Whl President Resigns To Operate Edmonton Team

After 23 years as president of the Western Hockey League, Ed Chynoweth has a new challenge. Chynoweth, 53, will operate a WHL expansion franchise in Edmonton starting in the 1996-97 season.

He announced his resignation Friday as president of both the WHL and its umbrella organization, the Canadian Hockey League, pending approval of an agreement to play in the 4,000-seat AgriCom.

The expansion franchise hopes to provide a hockey alternative to the higher-priced NHL Edmonton Oilers.

Spokane Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz applauded Chynoweth’s vision as WHL president.

“Our league is one of the best-run operations in hockey, and a great deal of the credit goes to Ed,” Speltz said Tuesday. “He convinced 17 owners that what was best for the league was in their best interests.”

In other developments, the Chiefs are busy moving into new offices in Veterans Memorial Arena. It should be complete by the beginning of next week, Speltz said.

Chiefs coach Mike Babcock is due back today after taking a junior team on a playing tour through Japan.

Parry Shockey will return as Babcock’s assistant.

Spokane defenseman Scott Fletcher will take part in rookie camp with the NHL San Jose Sharks in early September. Sharks veterans report to camp in Brainerd, Minn., on Sept. 10, a week before their exhibition opener in Spokane against the Vancouver Canucks.

More than 8,000 tickets have been sold for the preseason game, the inaugural sports event in the Arena.

Fletcher is expected to return to Spokane before the Sunday, Sept. 17, Canucks-Sharks game.

The Chiefs have sold a record 2,300 season tickets, up more than 400 from a year ago, Speltz said.

, DataTimes