WHL approves Chilliwack as 24th franchise for 2027-28 season

A second WHL team for Chilliwack

The club will play in the B.C. Division and Western Conference. Chilliwack previously hosted the Chilliwack Bruins, who played in the league from 2006 to 2011 before relocating to Victoria and becoming the Victoria Royals.

WHL commissioner Dan Near called Chilliwack "a passionate hockey community". He said the ownership group brings "the vision, commitment and resources to build something special".

Colliton holds three jobs at once

Colliton heads the ownership group, which includes Brett Motherwell, Mason Raymond, Mario Amantea and Patrick Lathrop. Colliton is 41. He coached the Chicago Blackhawks from 2018-19 through 2021-22 and went 87-92-26 with one playoff appearance. The club let him go after 12 games of the 2021-22 season. He then spent two seasons with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks, going 80-50-14. He was most recently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils from 2024-26.

He played four seasons in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders from 2001-05, then 57 NHL games with the New York Islanders and 326 AHL games.

"I'm honoured to be back in the Western Hockey League, which played such an important role in my development as a player and person," Colliton said. He said his family was thrilled to return to the Fraser Valley.

Near said Colliton's "credibility, leadership, and deep roots in Western Canadian hockey" would be assets. Brett Motherwell said the group expects "a longstanding, championship-calibre Club".

The Coliseum and the market it enters

The team will play at the 5,000-seat Chilliwack Coliseum, a 144,000 square foot facility that opened in 2004 and is owned and operated by the City of Chilliwack. It has two NHL-sized rinks, modern dressing rooms, a team merchandise store and 13 premium suites. The city has approved substantial upgrades ahead of 2027-28, the league said.

Chilliwack sits about 100 kilometres east of Vancouver and is also home to the Chiefs of the BCHL, so the new club will share the city with an established junior team. The league's announcement pointed to a natural regional rivalry with nearby WHL clubs including the Vancouver Giants. The City of Chilliwack said the franchise could bring increased tourism, economic activity, youth development and more entertainment for residents.

Mayor Jason Lum welcomed the announcement. "We're excited to welcome the Western Hockey League back to Chilliwack, and look forward to meeting the new ownership group and the team," he said. He encouraged residents and visitors to pack the Coliseum on game days. He said that would help make it "a win for Chilliwack both on and off the ice".

What the last expansion club did

The league's most recent addition before Chilliwack was the Penticton Vees, who joined for the 2025-26 season. Penticton won the B.C. Division in its first season with a 44-14-10 record and reached the Western Conference Final, where the Everett Silvertips swept it. The Vees were 7-8-1 this season entering Wednesday's games.

What happens next

The club will unveil its brand and name at a future local launch event. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Chilliwack will take part in the WHL Expansion Draft and the WHL Prospects Draft in spring 2027. The draft parameters will be announced later.