OJHL Looking To Expand By Two New Franchises
The Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) announced recently the league is conducting an expansion program to identify and award up to two new franchise teams.
On the announcement of the news, Commissioner Marty Savoy states, “The momentum & success of our league over the past few years is a direct result of the strength of our current franchise ownership group and the many key initiatives we have implemented recently to broaden the exposure, reach and success of our league.”
“With the impressive accomplishments and efforts of our two new franchises in Milton and Collingwood building their brands and fan base in those communities, the time is now for our league to take the next step to expand its ownership group and add two additional teams to our league to continue our vision plan for ‘excellence’ in Ontario hockey at the Junior A level.”
The program provides the opportunity for qualified new ownership groups to apply to the OJHL as a new expansion team(s) to operate within the geographical boundaries of the Ontario Hockey Association.
The program will include the opportunity for current Ontario Hockey Association member teams at the Junior “B” and Junior “C” categories to apply to be re-categorized at a the Junior “A” level for competition in the OJHL.
“The brand of the OJHL has evolved over the last number of years with programs such as our nationally broadcasted CHCH games of the week, our televised OJ Today magazine show, the OJHL combine and our successful OJHL Development League,” stated OJHL Chairman, Marc Mercier.
“As such,the league office receives inquires on a regular basis for expansion teams or from current OHA teams to join the OJHL and we feel the time is now to expand our league into new communities who will share in the success of our league.The OJHL is excited about the process of our expansion program and welcoming new partners at our Board of Governors table.”
The OJHL has formed an Expansion Committee that will manage the expansion process, which includes members from the OJHL Board of Directors and a representative from each of the Ontario Hockey Federation and the Ontario Hockey Association.
Interested parties are asked to contact OJHL Commissioner, Marty Savoy at 905-802-1620 or msavoy@theojhl.ca for full application details.