While the Squamish Cougars head into the World Hockey Association (WHA) playoffs early this year due to league trouble, the Pacific International Junior Hockey (PIJHL) League is reportedly in discussions to establish a completely different team in town. PIJHL president George Richards confirmed there have been "conversations" on launching a new team, but could not elaborate. "When we want you to know, I'm sure we'll knock your doors down," Richards said with a laugh. It's unclear whether the Cougars will be roaming Squamish next season. If not, other junior leagues like the PIJHL or the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) are welcome to set up a team in town, said Mayor Ian Sutherland. "If the Cougars are not back next year I think the people in the community, the people on our staff and at city hall and people in hockey in general would probably welcome another team into the community," he said.Sutherland said there are pros and cons to every league, but leagues that are recognized by Hockey Canada would impact Squamish Minor Hockey more positively than the WHA, which it considers an "outlaw" league."It makes it easier for minor hockey to deal with them and it makes it possible for the players on that team to give clinics for the kids in minor hockey and to get involved in minor hockey in a bigger way."Moreover, such junior teams are known to affiliate with local Minor Hockey Midget teams, allowing young players to get junior experience if they're needed. The Cougars were on the ice last week and are scheduled for future practices on a pay-as-you-go basis. However, no home games were scheduled as of press time, according to head coach Matt Samson, and a tentative playoffs may see the team in the Interior as early as this week.Meanwhile, Samson said the team may cap the regular season off at 27 games, short of the intended 46 games."We're either going to go right into the playoffs or have another week, I'm not exactly sure. I'm still waiting to hear," said Samson.The news comes after the WHA narrowly salvaged the league-owned Cougars' Brennan Park Arena ice privileges by paying the approximate $2,000 owed to the District of Squamish on Wednesday (Feb. 20).Although the district imposed a prepayment plan to safeguard against outstanding debts, the WHA failed to comply for weeks until the district threatened to enforce suspension. The WHA missed a Dec. 15 deposit deadline, which was then extended to Jan. 8, said recreation, parks and tourism director Bob Kusch. When that date wasn't met, the district sent notice to the WHA that it was in default of the agreement and no immediate payment would mean no further ice time."We finally gave them notice that their ice was suspended and we'd start allocating their ice time to other people," said Kusch. "A number of the ice times that they originally had booked have now been sold and rented out to others."In the meantime, both Samson and Kusch are playing the waiting game with the league, which owns five of the six WHA teams including the Cougars. "There are still some times available to them that they can still play some home games if they wish," said Kusch. "If they express an interest in doing that they have to pay for that ice time before we will allocate them that ice time so we're waiting for them to decide what they want to do."
