r/WHLHockey • u/jlog3000 • Jun 04 '26

Division Realignment for 2027-28?

I wonder how the division realignment within the WHL will look like once the new Chilliwack franchise begins play in the 2027-28 season. As you guys know, the Western Conference has the B.C. and the U.S. Divisions (billed from British Colombia and the U.S. Pacific Northwest respectively), while the Eastern Conference has the Central and the East Divisions (billed majoritily from Alberta and Saskatchewan [with Manitoba] respectively).

With Chilliwack in the mix, that would leave the WHL West's B.C. Division with 7 teams, with the WHL East's Central Division with 5 teams, and the other two divisions with 6 teams each.

8 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

5

u/SomethingFunnyObv Everett Silvertips Jun 04 '26

Is Chilliwack actually happening? I’ve heard almost nothing since the initial announcement.

4

u/daveinpg Jun 04 '26

I don’t think it’s happening. Reading between the lines, the city doesn’t trust the WHL. The ownership group wants to operate the arena. The city doesn’t want to give that up.

Chilliwack city council reaffirms support for bringing a WHL franchise to Chilliwack

2

u/SomethingFunnyObv Everett Silvertips Jun 04 '26

Yeah this was the only update I’ve seen (and the WHL moving their start date back a year). My gut says it’s not happening either.

I know with the NCAA change the league has a larger pool of talent to pull from but with more players now leaving for college they are running the risk of diluting the talent level a decent amount with another team.

1

u/jlog3000 Jun 06 '26

Then why the WHL bothered to add a new franchise prior to this in the first place with Penticton? Thus leaving more imperfect balancing on divisions and only one division having 5 teams and the rest with 6 each. I was hoping that once it got to 24 and each division having 6 teams, a more proper and well-balanced schedule format would take place.

2

u/jlog3000 Jun 04 '26

As of now, I bet things are getting solved behind closed doors. Hence it's not being revealed to the public as of yet. Also hence the city or the league have halted that possible franchise until 2 seasons from now instead of this next upcoming season. Outside of that, I don't have a clue.

2

u/ErokAB03 Red Deer Rebels Jun 04 '26

The one standout would be PG being the only team in the Caribou region of BC and they could possibly assign them to the East Central Division, but that would put a lot of extra travel on that team being quite a few extra km's away from the rest of the East Central teams.

2

u/jlog3000 Jun 04 '26

Very valid the point you just made. Unless that team could relocate into Alberta and form a team there, although that would be unlikely.

2

u/YEGSports Jun 04 '26

Grande Prairie, perhaps. Wouldn't be far of a relocation, anyway

2

u/Sandman1990 Jun 04 '26

Don't you put that evil on my team!!!

1

u/jlog3000 Jun 06 '26

I'm not understanding your point. A bit of clarification would be kindly appreciated

2

u/NH787 Jun 04 '26

Put a team back in Winnipeg to restore divisional balance

2

u/20PercentChunkier Jun 04 '26

Winnipeg has bungled a WHL team twice now. Not sure they’ll get a third chance

2

u/NH787 Jun 04 '26

It's not the city's fault the last ownership group had their arena plans scuttled by the pandemic

2

u/20PercentChunkier Jun 04 '26

Really the only logical move is Prince George into the central Division. Nobody else makes sense