Chilliwack/Calgary (with files from The Hockey News/Postmedia/Black Press) – It was a marriage, then a nasty divorce, a potential reconciliation, and now…waiting at the alter.
The WHL and Chilliwack seems to play out like “The War of the Roses” (IYKYK).
With great fanfare, the Chilliwack Bruins played at the Chilliwack Coliseum (then Prospera Centre) from 2006-11. After the 2010-11 season, the team relocated to Victoria and became the Victoria Royals.
The inside scuttle was that the WHL end game was to go to the then, new Victoria arena (Save On Foods Centre).
The move was a bitter taste for hockey fans as the old BCHL Chiefs had to relocate to Langley, to make way for the new team.
The Bruins left, their swag ended up in second hand stores. The Quesnel Millionaires were purchased in 2011 and moved south to become the new Chiefs. (FVN’s News Director Don Lehn was News Director for the radio station that, at the time, provided radio coverage for both teams. “Talk about drama” said Lehn).
In 2018, that Chiefs team won a national title.
Earlier in 2025, the WHL announced expansion teams for Penticton and Chilliwack. The Vees moved from the BCHL to the WHL. It appeared that the 2025-26 season would be the last for the current BCHL Chiefs at the Coliseum.
Wait, there’s more.
According to a report by Steve Ewen of “The Province”, the WHL is pushing Chilliwack’s inaugural season to 2027-28.
There are reports that a “Fraser Valley based ownership group” is being courted for the new team. Other inside reports say, no one is interested in getting involved. The PR side of the equation would be a nightmare. The WHL left a bad taste in the mouth of many local hockey fans.
Here’s a conundrum. The current Chiefs are expected to vacate at the end of the 25-26 season.
A one year delay could mean no major tenant for the City owned Coliseum.
Not good business.
FVN has reached out to the City of Chilliwack and the WHL head office in Calgary for comment. The City is not commenting at this time.
