The Western Hockey League is expanding to Chilliwack, British Columbia for the 2027-28 Western Hockey League season according to Taylor Rocca of chl.ca on Wednesday. Chilliwack will be the 24th WHL franchise and seventh WHL franchise in British Columbia. They are joined by the Vancouver Giants, Kamloops Blazers, Victoria Royals, Kelowna Rockets, Penticton Vees and Prince George Cougars.
Chilliwack is the current host city of two junior hockey teams. The Chilliwack Chiefs play in the British Columbia Hockey League and the Chilliwack Jets play in the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
The primary person behind bringing the WHL to Chilliwack is former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton of Blackie, Alberta. Colliton was the head coach of the Blackhawks from 2018 to 2021. In Chilliwack, he will be the franchise’s governor, general manager, head coach and part owner.
Colliton has National Hockey League playing experience. He was with the New York Islanders for five seasons from 2005 to 2011 as a centre. In 57 games, Colliton had three goals and three assists for six points. He was a -12 with two power-play points, and 36 shots on goal.
Both of Colliton’s power-play points were power-play goals and came in the same game. On January 8, 2011, Colliton scored twice in a 4-3 Islanders overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche. Colliton’s first power-play goal was an all-Canadian goal and came at 5:52 of the first period. Jon Sim of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and defenseman Andrew MacDonald of Judique, Nova Scotia had the assists. Colliton’s second power-play goal was also an all-Canadian goal. At 3:17 of the second period, Colliton scored from Josh Bailey of Bowmanville, Ontario and Blake Comeau of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan to put the Islanders up 3-2 at the time.
Meanwhile, former NHL player Mason Raymond of Cochrane, Alberta will also be a part owner of Chilliwack. Raymond played 10 seasons in the NHL from 2007 to 2016. He was with the Vancouver Canucks for six seasons from 2007 to 2013, the Toronto Maple Leafs for one season from 2013 to 2014, the Calgary Flames for two seasons from 2014 to 2016, and the Anaheim Ducks for one season in 2016.
In 5456 NHL games, Raymond had 115 goals and 136 assists for 251 points. He was a -2 with 156 penalty minutes, 59 power-play points, four shorthanded points, 17 game-winning goals, 1200 shots on goal, 109 faceoff wins, 124 blocked shots, 277 hits, 210 takeaways and 177 giveaways.
