WHA2 to Hit Canada in 2004-05
July 16, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL) News Release
CELEBRATION, Fla. â Peter Young, Co-founder and President of Hockey Operations for the World Hockey Association 2 (WHA2) today announced that the WHA2 will have a Northern Division comprised of as many as eight Canadian teams for the 2004 â 2005 season.
"It's exciting news for the WHA2," Young said. "After examining the situation for the upcoming season we felt it would put unfair pressure on the buildings in question to free up 30 dates on such short notice. But the response has been unbelievable."
"I honestly believe we could have an eight to ten team Northern division by next spring. Along with Ontario, there are some great hockey markets in the Maritimes and Quebec. They now have until May 1, 2004 to continue making preparations for the fall of 2004."
WHA2 representatives have held meetings with the arena managers in the Ontario cities of North Bay, Newmarket, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls to discuss leases for WHA2 teams to play in those cities next season. Negotiations will continue with the city of Cornwall to be the fifth.
"We have interest from ownership groups for each city and as an established league all current and potential ownership groups for these cities will make a presentation to the WHA2 expansion committee for approval and acceptance into the league." World Hockey Association (WHA) Co-founder Allan Howell said.
The long range plan is to have each Northern team make one trip south to play a handful of games against Southern Division teams. Southern Division teams would make a reciprocal trip north.
For the balance of the season, the teams will play teams in their own division.
The WHA2 will ice six teams for the upcoming season with confirmed franchises in Jacksonville, Lakeland, Macon, Miami, Orlando, and a yet to be named team in Central Alabama.
The WHA2's inaugural season will begin in late October. Each team will play a 60 game schedule.
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