It may confuse some people's sense of geography, but for better or worse the Prince George Spruce Kings will be a part of the B.C. Hockey League's Lower Mainland Division in the Coastal Conference next season and
possibly for years to come.
Darcy Buryn, president and governor of the Spruce Kings, said the decision to realign the Kings into a division with the also-moving Chilliwack Chiefs, Coquitlam Express, Langley Rivermen and Surrey Eagles for the 2012-2013 season was the best option for the league and shouldn't be looked on as any kind of future movement of the Prince George franchise to the south.
"There isn't anything in this shifting of divisions that should be read as a [preview] of any future moves," said Buryn, who was at the governors' meeting in Richmond on Thursday when the decision was made. "Our passion is the Prince George Spruce Kings and we'll always be the Prince George Spruce Kings."
Buryn said the new alignment, which will have two divisions in the Coastal Conference including an Island Division consisting of the Victoria Grizzlies, Nanaimo Clippers, Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Cowichan Valley Capitals and Powell River Kings will help solve the issues of ferry costs the Mainland- and Island-based teams have had for the past few years.
"I don't foresee a cost to us to move," said Buryn, adding it was a "very strong majority" of teams who voted for the Kings to move.
"The buzz is sort of about Prince George moving to the Lower Mainland, but the other thing that's happening is Powell River will be playing with the Island division teams [next season], so there's one of the geographically challenged teams in each of the three divisions. It's sort of sharing some of that burden across the league."
The other geographically challenged team, the Trail Smoke Eaters, will play in the Interior Conference with Salmon Arm,
Westside, Merritt, Vernon and Penticton.
Buryn said he insisted in having the clause in the new alignment where the Spruce Kings could move back to the Interior Conference
after the 2013 playoffs.
"I wanted that option in their just as a safe guard," said Buryn. "One of the things I believe as a league we really need to do is put some stability into our operations here. The last couple of years we've had franchises folding [Williams Lake] or moving [Quesnel to Chilliwack] and some realignment issues and change in playoff
issues.
"I think what we have to do is find something that works and it's here for a few years," he added.
"There's a safety valve there so that if we don't like how it's turning out we can flip back, but at the same time I think what the league needs most is some stability here for a few years. It doesn't look good when you're
changing regularly and often."
Other changes to the BCHL next season will include reducing the number of regular season games from 60 to 56, which will allow for weekend games and less midweek games with the season opening Sept. 14, 2012 and ending March 19, 2013.
"Our whole goal is to get as many games as possible throughout the league on Friday and Saturday nights," said Buryn, noting fans seem to prefer this based on attendance around the league.
"We're a league that's about education of our players and the more games we can play on the weekend the less disruption it'll be to the kids in high school or taking college classes."
The league will also add a showcase weekend, similar to events in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where all 16 teams will play two regular season games - one home and one away - in a single location. The BCHL Showcase will take place Sept. 7 to 9.
Bids are being sought to host the event until Feb. 1 but, Buryn said, the Kings won't try to host the initial showcase. Revenue from the showcase will be split between all 16 clubs.
The next decision for the governors will be on playoff format for the realigned
divisions. Buryn said he'd like to see the BCHL return to 12 teams making the playoffs - four in each of the three conferences - rather than the eight that will earn post-season berths
this year.
