WHL to discuss expansion

The subject of expansion to Edmonton will be part of the Western Hockey League’s board of governors meetings next week, but commissioner Ron Robison said there won’t likely be a vote on it.

Robison called the WHL’s recent decision to add a franchise in Chilliwack, British Columbia, in 2006-07 “unexpected” given that when the Everett Silvertips joined the league in 2003, the intention was to remain a 20-team league with a balanced five teams per division.

Now, the league has to decide what direction it wants to go when the team owners meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Calgary, Alberta, Robison said.

“If we were to contemplate further expansion, it would be highly unlikely we’d do so at this meeting,” he said Thursday. “It would probably be revisited more in the fall.”

The Edmonton Oilers have made it known for some time they want a WHL team, either by purchasing one and moving it to the Alberta capital or via expansion.

The NHL club’s recent decision to suspend operations of its AHL team in that city for next season was seen as a clearing of the way for a WHL franchise, although the Oilers denied that was the reason.

“We really see Edmonton as an immediate priority as far as analyzing the merits of their interest and how we might be able to accommodate them down the road,” Robison said.

Victoria, Nanaimo, B.C., Winnipeg and Grande Prairie, Alberta, have also expressed interest in joining the WHL at different times.

Last month, the WHL approved the sale of the Tri-City Americans to a group that included NHL players Stu Barnes and Olaf Kolzig, Americans GM Bob Tory and local businessman Dennis Loman and, at the same time, granted an expansion franchise in Chilliwack to the Americans’ former ownership group of Brian Burke, Glen Sather and Darryl Porter. Chilliwack begins play in 2006-07.

“It would be unlikely we would be expanding by two teams ‘06-07, but that is part of the discussions,” Robison said.

Robison said an expansion fee had yet to be established. He would not confirm a recent published report putting the price at $2.2 million.

Saint John, New Brunswick, and St. John’s, Newfoundland, recently joined the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for $3 million apiece.

The WHL won’t go into an NHL market without the endorsement of the NHL team and the Oilers have made it clear they won’t endorse a major junior team in their city unless they own it.

The most recent WHL team there in 1996, the Edmonton Ice, moved to Cranbrook, B.C., after two seasons.

The Oilers were struggling financially at the time and the Save the Oilers campaign drew interest away from the Ice.

Ice owner Ed Chynoweth, who made the decision to move to Cranbrook, is chairman of the WHL’s board of governors.