WHL Grants Expansion Franchise to Edmonton

CALGARY, AB – Ron Robison, Commissioner of the Western Hockey League, announced today that the WHL Board of Governors approved the granting of an expansion franchise, on a conditional basis, to the City of Edmonton commencing with the 2007-08 season.
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rThe WHL expansion franchise in Edmonton will be owned by the Edmonton Investors Group, current owners of the Edmonton Oilers.
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rIn awarding the expansion franchise, the WHL will require the Edmonton Investors Group to meet a series of conditions in order to obtain final approval.
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rThe new expansion franchise in Edmonton will increase the WHL to a total of 22 member Clubs throughout Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
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rThe Edmonton franchise will join the Central Division of the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
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rThe Chilliwack Bruins who were previously granted an expansion franchise as the WHL’s 21st Club will begin play in 2006-07.
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rWHL Annouces Re-Alignment
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rThe WHL also announced today the new WHL Conference and Division Alignment for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.
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rBeginning in the 2006-07 WHL season, the Kootenay Ice will return to the WHL Central Division, while the Swift Current Broncos move back to the WHL East Division. The expansion Chilliwack Bruins will commence play next season in the WHL B.C. Division. As a result, the 2006-07 alignment will feature 10 Clubs in the Western Conference and 11 Clubs in the Eastern Conference.
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rWith the addition of the Edmonton expansion franchise in 2007-08, the WHL Eastern Conference increases to 12 Clubs while the WHL Western Conference remains with 10 Clubs.
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rWHL Approves Sale of Portland
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rThe WHL Board of Governors also approved the sale of the Portland Winter Hawks franchise to a group of investors consisting of Jim Goldsmith of New York (Managing Partner), John Bryant of Dallas and Jack Donovan of Tuscon.
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rJack Donovan will be relocating to Portland to manage the franchise on behalf of the new ownership group.
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rThe new ownership group also announced that current General Manager Ken Hodge will continue to serve as the Portland Winter Hawks General Manager.
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rThe Portland franchise is an original member of the WHL. The franchise, originally the Edmonton Oil Kings, relocated to Portland following the conclusion of the 1975-76 season. The 2005-06 WHL season marked the 30th season the WHL Club has operated in Portland, Oregon.