Image: Marty Hastings / CFJC Today

By Alyssa Conti

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Kamloops Blazers’ Tom Gaglardi lauds WHL expansion in Chilliwack

Mar 29, 2025 | 12:15 PM

CHILLIWACK — Kamloops Blazers majority owner is looking forward to the recently announced WHL expansion in Chilliwack and Penticton.

Speaking with Marty Hastings of CFJC Today, Tom Gaglardi said the expansion would give the franchise access to more higher-end players, as well as natural geographic rivals for his team.

He also believes the city’s former WHL team, the Chilliwack Bruins, wasn’t due to a strength or weakness of the market.

“The market worked,” said Gaglardi. “They had good fan support, they had good corporate support… I think the ownership group just wasn’t that harmonious.”

The Chilliwack Bruins ran for five seasons before being sold to Victoria in 2011.

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Gaglardi added that he isn’t worried about saturating the Fraser Valley hockey market, but he does think “player pool is an issue”.

The Blazers owner is currently operating as an unofficial conduit between the league and potential owners for the upcoming Chilliwack team.