Seven PJHL Teams Challenge League Decision on Cloverdale Team

The owners of seven teams from the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) have filed a legal petition against the league in the British Columbia Supreme Court. They allege that the PJHL acted in an “oppressive and unfairly prejudicial manner” concerning the cancellation of the expansion Cloverdale team for the upcoming season. The league announced earlier this month that Cloverdale, which was added in May, will not be eligible to participate in the 2025-26 season.

The teams involved in the petition—Abbotsford Pilots, Aldergrove Ironmen, Mission City Outlaws, North Vancouver Wolf Pack, Port Moody Panthers, Surrey Knights, and White Rock Whalers—argue in court documents filed on September 3 that the decision lacks fairness and should be reversed. They express concerns that excluding Cloverdale could negatively impact the league as a whole.

The petitioners believe that the cancellation stems from tensions surrounding a failed motion to divide the league into two tiers, which was initially proposed in March. Under the plan, Cloverdale and the seven teams filing the petition would have been classified as Tier 2, while the remaining eight teams would have been designated as Tier 1. However, the motion did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote from the league’s teams.

The petition highlights that the league needs to establish a better framework for its future operations before implementing significant changes. According to the petitioners, the failed vote has fostered animosity between them and the aspiring Tier 1 teams. They assert, “Representatives of the teams that were seeking to move into the higher junior hockey tier within the PJHL have made it clear by their subsequent actions that they will do anything to thwart the interest of the petitioners.”

The league’s board of governors had previously approved the Cloverdale team in April, with BC Hockey also endorsing its inclusion after PJHL commissioner Trevor Alto facilitated the application process. However, on September 2, Alto informed the league that Cloverdale would not proceed, citing several outstanding issues, including ownership structure, arena license agreements, and financial arrangements.

The PJHL’s official response indicates that there is a franchise fee of $750,000, to be shared among all 15 teams, and mentions that league bylaw 4.4 prohibits existing governors or members from having any control or financial interest in new teams. The response notes that Chris McNally, owner of the White Rock Whalers, assisted Cloverdale in securing ice time, hiring staff, and purchasing equipment.

The league further contends that no motion was passed to approve Cloverdale’s franchise and claims that proposed owner Ronald Paterson failed to present a viable ownership plan or attend necessary meetings. The PJHL regards this as evidence that he may not wish to be involved with the league. A vote on August 5 revealed that Cloverdale’s application did not meet the two-thirds approval threshold required for acceptance.

Additionally, the league cites a potential conflict of interest due to the Whalers’ involvement with Cloverdale. They assert that the decision to exclude Cloverdale has not caused harm since the team was never officially part of the league. Concerns were also raised about the status of the Cloverdale team’s insurance. The PJHL’s response stated, “There is no objective evidence that the Cloverdale hockey club meets the bylaws of the PJHL.”

The league argues that the current application represents a group of members dissatisfied with the outcome of a membership vote improperly seeking redress in court. They assert that if Cloverdale meets the necessary criteria, arrangements could potentially be made to reschedule games for the season.

A decision on the petition is expected later, as the situation continues to unfold within the PJHL.