WHL CONCLUDES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
WHL unveils plans and logo for 50th anniversary season in
2015-16.
Vancouver,
BC – The Western
Hockey League concluded its Annual General Meeting today in Vancouver,
highlighted by the announcement of a series of plans and special events
associated with the WHL’s upcoming 50th anniversary season. The WHL
was established in the 1966-67 season.
The WHL’s
50th anniversary season will officially open on Thursday, September
24th in Moose Jaw, SK when the Warriors host the Regina Pats. The
East Division is considered the birthplace of the WHL and Moose Jaw is the home
of the first ever WHL championship team. The Moose Jaw Canucks became the first
League champions when they defeated the Regina Pats to close the WHL’s
inaugural season of 1966-67.
“We are
excited to celebrate the rich history of our League next season,” commented WHL
Commissioner Ron Robison. “We have been fortunate to have many talented
players, excellent teams and exceptional people in the WHL since 1966, and we
truly look forward to honouring these individuals and sharing the story of our
League throughout our 50th anniversary season.”
The WHL
also announced that a commemorative 50th anniversary season book
will be published which will detail the history of the League as well as its
Clubs, builders, players and key members. The book will be released in
September.
Fans will
also be able to have their say as the WHL announces its Top 50 Players of
All-Time next season. In addition to a select panel of WHL historians, fans can
vote to help determine the best players ever to suit up in the WHL. Each week,
the WHL will also honour two of its 49 League Championship teams leading up to
the 2016 WHL Playoffs with ‘Championship Tuesdays.’
Each WHL
Club will host a game next year to commemorate the WHL’s 50th
anniversary season and honour the history of its franchise and alumni.
In addition
to further initiatives during the 50th anniversary season to be
announced at a later time, the WHL will host a series of CHL special events
throughout the course of the year. The Subway Super Series will begin in
Kelowna on November 9th and will also see Kamloops host game two on
November 10th. The 2016 CHL/NHL Top Prospects game will be held in
Vancouver on January 28th. Finally, the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup
will see the host Red Deer Rebels and the 50th WHL Champion battle
for the top prize in junior hockey from May 19-29 as the event returns to
Alberta for the first time in over 40 years.
