Latest news with #DanNear
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
WHL Commissioner Dan Near reignites NCAA vs. AHL hockey debate
WHL Commissioner Dan Near (via Getty Images) A simmering hockey development debate that has been around for a long time has erupted once more—and this time it's personal. WHL Commissioner Dan Near came out swinging in his podcast appearance this week, likening NCAA hockey to "business class" and challenging whether or not it properly prepares players for the ruggedness of pro hockey existence in the AHL. Dan Near's "business class" insult of NCAA draws criticism On July 16, WHL Commissioner Dan Near caused a stir when he made an appearance on the Pipeline Show podcast and offered a blunt analogy comparing NCAA hockey to flying business class. He maintained that players, after being introduced to the comfort of the college game, might not be prepared for the pro-level grind and the turbulence associated with it. 'I know people who have flown coach their whole life and then had an opportunity to get upgraded, and they sat in business class. Do you know how hard it is to go back to coach once you've sat in business class?' he said. 'Well, the American Hockey League versus the NCAA environment—I'm not sure that playing a Friday-Saturday schedule and then pumping iron and drinking smoothies all week is necessarily the best segue into what the AHL grind is like. ' His words prompted instant backlash on the web, particularly given the timing—just days after the league's best WHL star, Gavin McKenna, pledged to Penn State, the first marquee CHL player to leap to NCAA hockey under the new eligibility standards. NCAA advocates make the case that additional time, schooling, and focus on comprehensive development can be to the benefit of both the player and the individual. Detractors contend it has the potential to shelter players from pro-grade adversity. Bottom line: No easy path to NHL Dan Near's comparison is inflammatory, perhaps, but it raises a legitimate question: Is NCAA hockey readying players for professional hockey's strain, or is it too cushy? Also read: Future NHL stars: Ranking top 10 goaltenders under age 25, including Dustin Wolf and Spencer Knight With more CHL players looking to the college path and the AHL still pumping out NHL-ready talent, the argument isn't disappearing anytime soon. And while leagues vie for the future stars, the only thing certain is that the road to the NHL will continue to be anything but smooth. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Province
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Province
WHL shortlists potential owners for Chilliwack expansion team
Commissioner Dan Near wouldn't say how many groups are in the running, but they'll meet with league brass in the next 30 days Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox WHL commissioner Dan Near said the shortlisted groups have 'legitimate local ties to the Fraser Valley and to British Columbia.' Photo by Jim Wells / Postmedia It sounds like the WHL is closing in on choosing an owner for its Chilliwack expansion team that's slated to start action in the 2026-27 season. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors WHL commissioner Dan Near says the league has shortlisted applications and will have the latest round of perspective ownership groups make presentations to the executive committee and board of governors in 'the next 30 days.' Near wouldn't get into exact numbers, only saying that the shortlist was a 'few,' before adding that 'it's not six or eight.' He added that all the remaining groups have 'legitimate local ties to the Fraser Valley and to British Columbia.' 'In light of this being a return to Chilliwack, that credibility and authenticity in the community is an important part of this step,' Near continued. Chilliwack Coliseum — then known as Prospera Place — hosted the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins for five seasons from 2006-11, before the franchise moved to Vancouver Island and became the Victoria Royals. The area had long been a BCHL staple with the Chilliwack Chiefs and they were moved out to make way for the Bruins. There was enough of a bitterness in the market about how the Bruins situation played out that Near mentioned it a press conference in March announcing the league's return. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I know the pain it caused,' Near told reporters at the time. 'Looking back, our departure was regrettable and created a long-standing friction between our league and this vibrant and growing community. I can't turn back the clock, but I can look everyone here in the eye and say, on behalf of the league, that I apologize for what this community went through in 2011. We made a mistake and can't change what happened, but we're here today to make amends for it.' When Near announced that Chilliwack was getting a new team he said that the league could be 'spending a year to find the best person or group available.' The Chiefs were resurrected in Chilliwack after the Bruins left and they'll remain as a BCHL entity in Chilliwack for one more season. Chiefs owner Moray Keith has said that he'd like to move the team after that. Keith was a minority owner in the Bruins but was unhappy with the experience and has said that he doesn't want be involved with the WHL team. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The city wanted the return to the WHL. It is a higher tier than the BCHL and attracts bigger crowds and has greater profile. WHL owners have been keen on having a team in Chilliwack for travel issues as well. It's a day trip for the teams like the Vancouver Giants, Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops Blazers and Penticton Vees. It's a logical stopoff point for teams making B.C. road trips from outside of the province. The Vees are making the move next season from the BCHL as an expansion franchise. Expansion fees haven't been made public, but sources say the Vees pay somewhere in the $15 million range to join the league. Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks World News Buying & Selling
Vancouver Sun
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Busy Vees: Penticton playing in BCHL semifinals, making WHL expansion draft picks this week
Article content Leslie has said that if he doesn't sign a pro contract this summer, he'll spend his 20-year-old season beginning next fall with the Bowling Green State University Falcons rather than return to the Giants. Article content Leslie could be moved to the Giants' college exempt list and not count against the team's 50-player protected list after the expansion draft but not until then. If things didn't work out in pro or college and he returned to the WHL at some point this coming season, he'd be an automatic top-pairing defenceman. He finished second in scoring among blue liners across the league in the regular season this year with 72 points, including 21 goals. Article content If the Giants protect Leslie, chances are they'd want to protect a fourth 20-year-old as well, as cover for them. And that would mean they'd protect one less player overall. Article content The Vees were awarded the fourth pick in the first round of the WHL draft. Article content The WHL is slated to add another expansion team next summer, with a squad going into Chilliwack in preparation for the 2026-27 season. The league is taking applications for ownership and WHL commissioner Dan Near explained via text Monday that there's a 'number of interested parties,' and that the league is 'very pleased with the interest level and enthusiasm from prospective ownership groups thus far.' No word on when they might come to a decision. Article content Article content Chilliwack is home to the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs who, oddly enough, are currently facing the Victoria Grizzlies in the other league semifinal, for the right to to meet either Penticton or Brooks in the championship series. The Grizzlies and Chiefs are knotted at 1-1 going into Game 3 Tuesday in Victoria. Article content Chiefs principal owner Moray Keith has repeatedly said that he's not interested in owning a WHL team. The Chiefs are expected to remain in Chilliwack next season before moving elsewhere. Article content It was both the city council and the WHL that were interested in putting a team in Chilliwack. They've had the WHL before in the city, with the Chilliwack Bruins playing there from 2006-11 before moving to Vancouver Island to become the Victoria Royals. Article content The league's never announced what the Vees' expansion fee, but various league sources have put it at $15 million. Article content Penticton (41-8-5-0) and Brooks (40-10-2-2) had the BCHL's best records during the regular season, followed by Chilliwack (37-12-5-0). Victoria (28-17-8-1) was ninth. Article content Penticton lost in last year's best-of-seven Fred Page Cup league championship, falling in six games to the Surrey Eagles. The Vees had won the two years previous. The league no longer competes for a national title. They announced in May 2023 that they were leaving Hockey Canada and becoming an independent league. Article content Article content
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WHL & Victory+ Announce Historic New Streaming Deal
The WHL and Victory+ have partnered on a new streaming deal that will give fans free access to regular-season and playoff games. This historic partnership is a multi-year deal and will provide fans from across the globe the ability to stream the WHL starting on March 28, 2025. Victory+ is owned by Western Canadian tech company A Parent Media Co. Inc. (APMC) and is the leading free, ad-supported streaming service for live and on-demand sports content. Through this groundbreaking partnership between Victory+ and the WHL, hockey fans can look forward to enjoying a completely new content ecosystem focused entirely on hockey's next generation of stars. Victory+ and the WHL will offer free livestreaming of more than 700 WHL Regular Season games featuring all 22 WHL Clubs and the WHL Playoffs. The streaming service will also include classic games from the WHL archives and unique on-demand content. In a statement, WHL Commissioner Dan Near wrote, "The WHL envisions a massive opportunity to bring fans closer to the game with unlimited access through Victory+. WHL players and Clubs are deeply connected to our communities, and we represent the No. 1 passion point for hockey fans in the majority of markets in which we operate. This alliance with Victory+ will vastly extend the reach of the WHL product and give hockey fans around the world visibility to our great players competing at the very highest level of junior hockey." For more information on the new streaming platform, fans are encouraged to visit and Victory+ can be found on a number of devices, including Samsung and Vizio smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android and web browsers. The WHL Playoffs will be available on Victory+ without geo-restrictions. Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Hitmen Goaltender Daniel Hauser Breaks League Wins Record Thunderbirds & Wild Competing For Final Spot In The 2025 WHL Playoffs Gavin McKenna Modern Snaps CHL Record In Seven Point Performance Swift Current Broncos Secure Final Playoff Spot In The Eastern Conference
