Video replay is coming to the B.C. Hockey League.
The league is introducing a scorecard for its 18 member teams which will make it a requirement within the next four years for each of the teams to have video review capabilities during games.
The Chilliwack Chiefs were the first to equip their arena with video cameras that provide different angles to help game officials to determine when pucks cross the goal line into the net or if goalie interference occurred before a goal was scored.
Other BCHL teams will bring in video replay this coming season and eventually it will be required for all teams, as determined in an October vote of league governors.
the scorecard will also provide a broad measuring stick to ensure each team is meeting enhanced standards the league has adopted which cover team operations, off-ice business operations, and arena amenities/facility infrastructure.
The 2022-23 season will mark the first year of scoreboard implementation and each team is required to reach a defined level by the end of the 2025-26 season, the league announced Monday.
The four-year plan will also eliminate player fees across the league.
Details of the plan were finalized at the BCHL’s general meeting in Salmon Arm, May 26-27.
To reflect the league’s commitment to raising the standards of its day-to-day operations and emphasize the business direction of the league, commissioner Chris Hebb’s job title has been changed to chief executive officer, while deputy commissioner Steven Cocker becomes the BCHL’s chief operating officer.
“The league standards scorecard acts as a way for each of our 18 teams to recognize their individual strengths and weaknesses and to work towards making improvements that will ultimately benefit their organizations as well as the league as a whole,” said Hebb, in prepared release. “It’s hard to gauge progress without measurables and this scorecard will provide that tool to each team and help guide their effort and resources towards improving their franchise.”
League governors also approved a five-year plan for special events. Next season will include the BCHL Showcase (which features all 18 teams playing in one city during the same week to enhance pro and college scouting opportunities), the Road Show (which involves the Prince George Spruce Kings visiting northern B.C. communities such as Kitimat and Burns Lake for a pair of league games and minor hockey/coaching sessions), the Top Prospects Game and the 60th Anniversary outdoor event in January 2023 (which was cancelled last season due to pandemic crowd size limitations).
“The goal of our league events is to increase exposure for our athletes, while driving league business at the same time,” said Cocker. “We have held successful events in recent years, including the league Showcase last fall and the Road Show in Kitimat the year prior, but we believe they have much higher potential and our events strategic plan will help guide us there.”
The league has also adopted a policy to allow BCHL athletes to report any type of abuse, harassment or discrimination they might incur while playing in the league. The BCHL will appoint a safe sport officer who will remain on call to investigate any player safety incident. That person would conduct any investigation independently from the league and the teams. Players will be able to report an incident directly to the safe sport officer, team athlete advocate or through previous reporting mechanisms already in place. The policy will follow guidelines outlined by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.
“The safety of our athletes is at the forefront of all that we do,” said Cocker. “We have made strides in recent years to protect our players on the ice, but they need to be protected off the ice as well.”
