The Keystone Junior Hockey League says that they are accepting applications for new teams heading into the upcoming 2018-2019 season.
The announcement, which is posted on the league’s website, comes in the wake of reports that five teams are leaving to form their own Junior “B” league. The teams reported to be leaving are the Selkirk Fishermen, Lundar Falcons, St Malo Warriors, Arborg Ice Dogs and the North Winnipeg Satellites.
The departure leaves the Keystone Junior Hockey League with five teams; the Peguis Juniors, Fisher River Hawks, OCN Storm, Cross Lake Islanders and the Norway House Northstars.
According to the report the teams have said that they could not afford to travel north. That claim has been refuted however, as the northern teams provide travel/hotel accomidation and meals. There is also a claim that some of the parents of players are reluctant to let their children travel by bus after the Humboldt Broncos crash.
The general manager of the OCN Storm isn’t thrilled with the news. Jeremy Hohn spoke to Arctic Radio News and said that he’s very disappointed by the five teams’ decision to form their own league. Hohn went on to claim that the commissioner of the KJHL lied when it came to the plans of the franchises.
It has been reported that the league hopes to attract expansion teams, and that KJHL officials have received interest from Nelson House (NCN) in conjunction with the City of Thompson.
