Kelowna’s Building Woes Keep Commissioner On Toes

Commissioner Dev Dley said the lack of a suitable playing facility in Kelowna, British Columbia, remains a “source of concern” in the Western Hockey League.

“I’m not aware of any franchises right now that are looking to move,” said Dley, who was here this week to announce that Spokane is the site of the 1997 all-star game. “The only situation that was - and perhaps to a certain extent still is - causing some concern is Kelowna.”

Memorial Arena seats fewer than 2,000.

“We’ve been given assurances recently that there is a new building that is ready to be built,” Dley said. “If if happens, that will be a valuable franchise.”

That’s if. Rockets owner Bruce Hamilton was encouraged last week by the $100,000 non-refundable deposit that developer Gordon Oxley put down to show that the new facility, the Omni Centre, would go up. Plans call for a $20 million, 6,800-seat downtown facility with up to 30 luxury suites.

The construction start is already six months behind schedule.

The goal now, Hamilton said, is to “get dirt moving by June or early July.” Construction is expected to take 11 months, meaning the club faces another year in Memorial.

Mindful that Kelowna in 1985 lost a WHL franchise to Spokane, Dley said, “With what I know about municipalities in British Columbia, until you see the shovel going into the ground you don’t hold a lot of faith in promises.”

Dley also said that expansion is not likely. Edmonton comes into the league next season to push the WHL to 18 teams.

“The league has been cautious about expanding,” said Dley, who this year replaced WHL president Ed Chynoweth, set to operate the Edmonton club. “We have to make sure that the talent pool can ensure a quality product on the ice. I think for the foreseeable future you’re looking at 18 clubs and that’s where it’s going to stay.”

As for Portland’s future in the WHL with the NHL expected to expand into the Rose Garden, Dley said, “If the NHL comes to Portland two major-league sports will occupy the same building. The (WHL’s) concern is simply getting dates.

“If that can be worked out, fine, because there’s a very loyal following in Portland. I think there’s a (continued) market for junior hockey there.”

Since you asked …

Mike Babcock has another year left on a three-year contract as coach of the Chiefs. While the season is in progress, Babcock and the club are discouraging the distraction of contract talks.

But after the season, general manager Tim Speltz said the Chiefs and Babcock will discuss the coach’s future in Spokane.

Babcock’s intent when he was hired was to move on to pro hockey. Few at the time saw how fast his stock would rise in two seasons here.

Although an attractive outside offer could change his outlook, Babcock said that he expects to sign another contract with the Chiefs.

“We love it here,” Babcock said. “I can see myself being here five years.”

Co-finalist for WHL coach of the year with Brandon’s Bob Lowes, Babcock has taken a team picked to go no higher than fourth to the brink of the West Division title.

Speltz, co-finalist for WHL executive of the year, said he’s in Spokane for the long-term.

“I’d love to raise my family here,” said Speltz, in his sixth season with the Chiefs. “I’m happy with the way I’ve been treated. This might be as good as it gets.”

Around the WHL …

One usually well-informed WHL media type feels that Tri-City center Daymond Langkow is having a disappointing year after he signed his contract and started the season with Tampa Bay, then was sent back to the WHL. Tri-City coach Bob Loucks disagrees. “I don’t know what people expect. They don’t see his name in the top 20 (in scoring) and they think he’s having a bad year. He’s back in the top 20 with only 46 games, when everybody else is close to 70 (games).” … Langkow is 20th in scoring with 88 points in 46 games… . Langkow isn’t the only star with his critics. Some of the fans in Spokane get on Sean Gillam’s case. Maybe the C on their shirts makes the two team captains, Langkow and Gillam, convenient targets for unreasonable expectations… . Spokane’s top scorer, Dmitri Leonov, is 19th in the WHL with 90 points in 70 games.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CHIEFS CLINCH OUTRIGHT The Portland Winter Hawks defeated the Kamloops Blazers, 5-4, Friday night, clinching the WHL West Division title outright for the idle Spokane Chiefs.