The Western Hockey League is headed back to Chilliwack.
The league announced on Thursday that the Board of Governors has approved an expansion franchise for Chilliwack, which will begin play as the WHL’s 24th team in the 2027-28 season.
The new club will be aligned in the B.C. Division and Western Conference, marking the return of major junior hockey to the city for the first time since the Chilliwack Bruins relocated to Victoria following the 2010-11 season.
The expansion franchise is backed by a high-profile ownership group featuring deep ties to both the National Hockey League and Western Canada.
Former Chicago Blackhawks and Abbotsford Canucks head coach Jeremy Colliton will serve as the face of the franchise, taking on the roles of Governor, General Manager, and Head Coach.
Colliton is joined in the ownership group by former Vancouver Canucks forward Mason Raymond, alongside Brett Motherwell, Mario Amantea and Patrick Lathrop.
“I’m honoured to be back in the Western Hockey League, which played such an important role in my development as a player and person,” Colliton told the WHL after the move was made official on Wednesday. “We look forward to building a franchise the hockey fans of Chilliwack will be proud of.”
WHL Commissioner Dan Near says the league is confident that this specific group has the vision and resources to build a successful organization.
“Chilliwack is a passionate hockey community and we believe this ownership group brings the vision, commitment, and resources to build something special,” said Near. “We look forward to working together to establish a first-class organization that the community can rally around.”
Former team logo of the Chilliwack Bruins, which played in the WHL from 2006 to 2011 before the franchise moved to Victoria/via Wikipedia
The team will play its home games at the 5,000 seat Chilliwack Coliseum, a facility that originally opened in 2004 and played host to the original WHL team from Chilliwack — the Bruins — from 2006 to 2011 before the team moved to Victoria.
Chilliwack was originally expected to join the WHL ahead of last season along with the Penticton Vees, but ran into some unspecified concerns about the Coliseum which delayed the franchise approval.
Chilliwack Mayor Jason Lum says the city has already approved substantial upgrades to the arena ahead of the 2027-28 puck drop.
“I encourage residents and visitors to pack the Coliseum on game days, get behind our new team, and help make this a win for Chilliwack both on and off the ice,” said Lum, who himself is in a new role as Mayor, having previously served as a councilor in Chilliwack since 2011.
The WHL says the club’s official branding and team name will be unveiled at a local launch event in the coming weeks.
Colliton and his hockey operations staff now have to start working toward developing a new roster.
This will be aided by another WHL Expansion Draft and the annual WHL Prospects Draft coming up next spring.
-With files from Jon Keen & the WHL
