Sale and relocation of Quesnel franchise approved by board

Press Release

After going to a vote by the league board of governors, the proposed sale and relocation of the Quesnel Millionaires Hockey Club has been unanimously accepted subject to formal approval from BC Hockey.

Chiefs Development Group (CDG), formerly the owners of the Langley Chiefs and consisting mainly of Moray Keith and Jim Bond has purchased the franchise with the intent of moving it to Chilliwack. Longtime Chiefs head coach and general manager Harvey Smyl has agreed to an ownership position within the new group.

“I’m very happy to have the great support of the BCHL board of governors and that they’d vote unanimously to bring Chilliwack back into our league,” said board chairman Darcy Rota. “There are still some points that need to be cleared up before it’s official but we’re sure that will happen very soon.”

CDG recently sold the Langley franchise but retain the rights to the “Chiefs” nickname. Nothing has been made official yet as to a name for the relocating franchise though the last time the BCHL had a team in Chilliwack, in the 2005-06 season, they were known as the Chiefs.

The Chilliwack team will play in the Interior Conference for the coming season and the league will be realigned after that.

Due to the late timing of the application, BC Hockey will be holding an exceptional conference call of its executive committee in order to formalize, review and approve the sale and relocation of the club.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)