The B.C. Hockey League has expanded into the United States.
On Monday, the BCHL - which has the Prince George Spruce Kings as one of its teams - announced that the Wenatchee Wild will join the league for the 2015-16 season. The Wild will become the BCHL's 17th franchise and its first American one since the Bellingham Ice Hawks, a club that operated from 1990 to 1995.
The Wild had been a member of the North American Hockey League since 2008-09 and had posted a winning record every year.
"The BCHL is gaining a strong franchise in the Wenatchee Wild and we value the passion and professionalism they bring to our league," BCHL commissioner John Grisdale said in a media release. "The Wild will quickly develop rivalries with our existing franchises and I believe they will be a big draw in opposing buildings."
The Wild is coached by Bliss Littler, who has been a junior bench boss for 21 years and counting.
"We could not be more excited or humbled to be joining the BCHL," Littler said. "Knowing the history and reputation of the league, be it sending players to play NCAA Division I hockey, NHL draft picks or the professionalism of the member teams and league, we look forward to being a good league member on and off the ice."
As a U.S. club, the Wild will be allowed to have just four Canadian players on its roster.
Wenatchee is located in north central Washington, west of Seattle. The team is based at the Town Toyota Center and averages about 3,000 fans per home game.
Wenatchee has long been interested in gaining membership in the BCHL. Pleas for expansion to that community go back to at least 2006, when the now-defunct Williams Lake Timberwolves were still clinging to life.
When the financially strapped Timberwolves did fold at the end of the 2006-07 season, Wenatchee was granted the right to take them over for 2008-09 but the move never happened because USA Hockey refused to give its stamp of approval. Instead, Wenatchee ended up in the NAHL.
