While not a lot has been heard since the summer concerning a new Tier I junior league slated for the Western United States, it looks as though work is continuing behind the scenes.
Plans now are for the league to begin in 2024-2025, and not 2023. This is a significant change in the timeline that was originally announced. The change clearly makes the league a more viable concept as 2023 was not a feasible deadline to begin play.
The yet to be named league has already received pledges of support from four NHL franchises: Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim and Vegas. Rumors are that Arizona, and Colorado could also be involved. The travel footprint, and support from local hockey communities would make these two locations natural additions.
In an effort to boost credibility and notoriety, the new league has just added two Hall of Famers in Teemu Selanne and Luc Robitaille.
Selanne was announced as one of the league’s founding members, while Robitaille will contribute to the advisory board. These are significant announcements as they relate to the locations where the new league is planning on having teams. There are few more recognizable names on the West Coast than Selanne and Robitaille, when it comes to hockey.
Selanne and Robitaille join Taylor Burke, former Phoenix Coyotes assistant GM whose family owned the team at one point and built several rinks in Arizona.
John Moreland has been a business executive for 30 years, and Sam Simon is the founder and chairman of a group that owns more than 120 companies. Peter Simon, his son, will join him as a founding member. The Capistrano Fund, is also said to be involved and they are known for investing in sports, media and entertainment with a focus on families.
Former USHL Commissioner Tom Garrity is also on board and working to form the new league. A longtime member of the USHL with critical knowledge of how the Tier I level operates and how the new league can reach that level.
The addition of Garrity cannot be overstated as his experience at this level as a commissioner opens many doors for the group moving forward. A former USHL team owner and commissioner, Garrity knows the in’s and out’s of Tier I junior hockey like few others.
The new league will be NCAA compliant in that no stipend’s will be paid to players, unlike Major Junior hockey in Canada.
TJHN will update this story as more information becomes available.
