WHL Establishes Expansion Franchise In Everett, Washington

Everett, WA – Ron Robison, Commissioner of the Western Hockey League, announced today that an agreement has been reached to establish a new expansion franchise in the City of Everett, Washington commencing with the 2003-04 hockey season.

The new expansion franchise in Everett will increase the Western Hockey League to a total of 20 member clubs throughout the Pacific Northwest of United States and Western Canada.

The Everett franchise will join the U.S. Division of the WHL’s Western Conference in 2003-04 which currently consists of four other U.S. WHL based teams – Seattle Thunderbirds, Portland Winter Hawks, Tri-City Americans and the Spokane Chiefs. With the addition of Everett in 2003-04, the WHL will complete its realignment plan to balance the League’s Western and Eastern Conferences with four, five team divisions. The Western Hockey League has been in existence for 36 years, beginning in 1966.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

East Division
Brandon
Moose Jaw
Prince Albert
Regina
Saskatoon

Central Division
Calgary
Lethbridge
Medicine Hat
Red Deer
Swift Current

WESTERN CONFERENCE

B.C Division
Kamloops
Kelowna
Kootenay
Prince George
Vancouver

U.S Division
*Everett
Portland
Seattle
Spokane
Tri-Cities

* Everett begins play in the 2003-04 WHL season.

The new WHL expansion franchise in Everett has been awarded to Mr. Bill Yuill of EHT Inc. Mr. Yuill, who has served as the owner of the WHL’s Seattle franchise since 1989, will be divesting of his interest in the Thunderbirds in order to focus full attention on the establishment of the expansion franchise in Everett. EHT Inc., has entered into a long term lease agreement with Everett Public Facilities District which will result in the WHL franchise serving as the anchor tenant of the new state of the art hockey arena.
“In conjunction with the Western Hockey League, EHT, Inc. is delighted to have a presence in the Everett, Washington market,” stated Mr. Yuill. “We truly believe there is a wonderful opportunity for the league in Everett and we look forward to pursuing that opportunity,” continued Mr. Yuill.

The WHL believes the City of Everett and its new 8,200 seat hockey area, which will open the fall of 2003, is a market ideally suited for the league at this time. “The addition of Everett will not only allow us to add a fifth team to our U.S. Division but will further strengthen our position in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region” Robison stated. “ We believe Everett’s close proximity to our U.S. and B.C. Division combined with a new world class facility ideally suited for the WHL will capture the interest of sports fans in this region.”

The WHL is recognized as one of the world’s leading producers of hockey talent for the National Hockey League. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, comprised of three leagues – Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League – the WHL had more players drafted by the NHL at last years entry draft than any other league in the world. Many of today’s finest NHL players including Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche, Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars and the NHL top scorer Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, are graduates of the WHL.