Rumours abound in senior hockey – BRHL teams too good, reports say they may be voted out of their new league

It could be one year and out for the four former Battle River Hockey League (BRHL) Senior AA teams, all hogging every position in the semi-finals of their newly joined North Central Hockey League.

Unimpressed with taking a regular beating from the four former BRHL teams, which are on a one year probation, several of the established NCHL teams apparently don’t want them back next season, according to senior hockey sources and confirmed by an NCHL executive member.

When playoffs began in late January, four of the eight teams eligible were from the now defunct BRHL; Tofield Satellites, Daysland North Stars, Big Valley Oil Kings, and defending BRHL champion Bonnyville Pontiacs. After the first round, every established NCHL team had been eliminated and an all BRHL semi-final began; Daysland vs. Big Valley, and Tofield vs. Bonnyville.

During the regular season, BRHL teams held a 41-7 record against NCHL teams and outscored them 351-164. Included in those totals was a BRHL winning streak of 27 games, a run in which no BRHL team lost any regular season game to a NCHL team in a couple of months.

… for more see the Feb. 16/16 Mercury