Junior hockey returns to Vancouver

The Vancouver team will play in the Northwest Division, which in 2014-15 had seven teams. It will play 24 regular-season home games.

WSHL president and commissioner Ron White said the league has had interest in the Vancouver-Portland market for some time. He said the departure of the Northern Pacific Hockey League from Vancouver — the most recent club ceased operations early last season — put this metro area back on the WSHL’s radar.

Mountain View Ice Arena general manager Bob Knoerl said he reached out to White after the Fort Vancouver Vipers folded in October, only eight games into their NPHL season. Knoerl said the Western States league is stronger and more established than the NPHL — a big selling point in his decision to bring another junior team to his rink.

The WSHL formed in 1994-95. White has been the league’s commissioner since its second season.

Players pay to play in the WSHL. It markets itself as a developmental league for players hoping to move to college hockey.

Spencer Jamison said the cost to play for the Vancouver team has not yet been decided. White, the commissioner, said WSHL teams charge varying amounts to their players. To make sure teams don’t gain a competitive edge, White said there is a “reverse salary cap” model in place. Each club must collect at least $150,000 in player fees.

With only three months until training camp begins, building a roster from scratch will be challenging. But Jamison said he is confident the Vancouver team will be competitive right away. Chad Olson, an assistant coach with the Tahoe team last season, has been hired to take the lead on recruiting. Dave Daniello — who has experience on the East Coast as both a coach and as a consultant to junior level players — will be the head coach.

The Western States Hockey League jumped from USA Hockey to the Amateur Athletic Union for the 2011-12 season, citing rule changes within USA Hockey that put financial pressure on WSHL clubs. White noted that since that shift the league has grown from 14 teams to 29 — and perhaps 30 by the start of next season.

“All our teams have full rosters,” White noted. “So we’ve had no trouble getting players.”

The WSHL this week announced it was rebranding itself from a Tier III junior league to a Tier II league. Under USA Hockey, a Tier II league cannot charge players to play. White said that the WSHL is comparing itself with Canadian Tier II junior teams that do charge players to play.

White said the league is interested in adding more Oregon teams. The Southern Oregon Spartans — a former NPHL club based in Medford — is in the Northwest Division. Other teams in the division are the league champion Idaho Junior Steelheads, the Seattle Junior Totems, three Montana teams and Lake Tahoe.