Chris Clegg
North Peace Hockey League
The Valleyview Jets have folded less than two weeks before the start of the 2017-18 NPHL season.
The Jets informed NPHL President Jack McAvoy of their decision Oct. 24. The club is folding due to lack of players.
McAvoy says a new schedule will not be drawn, but games added, taking into consideration wishes of the teams expressed earlier this season.
Arena schedules have been set throughout the Peace making it difficult to release a new schedule.
In the East Division, teams lose four games with the absence of the Jets.
Therefore, two games will be added; a home-and-home series between the Grimshaw Huskies and Manning Comets; and a home-and-home series with the Falher Pirates and High Prairie Regals, to comprise 20 games.
In the West Division, to make up for the loss of the two games versus the Jets, one game will be added against each division opponent. Their schedules remain at 18 games.
The Jets’ departure is not the first this fall. The five-time defending champions Spirit River Rangers officially informed the NPHL Oct. 14 of their decision to not ice a club this season.
The NPHL will be comprised this year of seven teams.
The league’s East Division is now comprised of the Falher Pirates, Grimshaw Huskies, High Prairie Regals and Manning Comets.
The West Division is comprised of the Dawson Creek Canucks, Fort St. John Flyers and Grande Prairie Athletics.