Burns Lake Braves out of CIHL for 2005-06 season
The Burns Lake Braves Hockey team, long a fixture in the Central Interior Hockey League, has become
victim of a set of circumstances that has resulted in the Braves taking a year out of the league.
The following statement was issued by Diane Harder, President of the club, to the CIHL executive
on the weekend.
"It is with great sadness and disappointment that I officially announce that the Burns Lake Braves will not be participating in the Central Interior Hockey League for the 2005-06 season. With players injured from last season and awaiting surgery, gone to school, working out of town, we could not field a team. This decision was not taken lightly -- we had put an ad in the (local) paper and asked for players as far away as Prince George, to join our team. However the players that were interested could not commit to a 20-game schedule.
The Burns Lake Braves would like to wish 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Mackenzie, Houston,
Smithers, Terrace and Kitimat,at a great season. We hope to have a safe and successful season."
Senior player, Dave Wiletjo, said on the CIHL Forum, said Jarett Anderson was the only returnee to
the top line, and Dan Conklin was the only returnee from the second line, while realistically, only
another three forwards could be expected back.
Wiletjo added his younger brother, Steve, last year's CIHL scoring champion, was planning to
return to school, while other players had heavy work commitments.
Wiletjo says the club appreciated and still enjoys great fan support in Burns Lake. He noted that
the additional four games of the planned 20 - game schedule, added to the pressure on remaining
players.
He expects a number of players from Burns Lake to re-surface with other CIHL teams in the region.
The late announcement of the Braves' August 24 decision not to ice a team for the 2005-06 season has
resulted in a scramble to re-design a schedule for the season that will work equally for
all participating teams. Watch this site for an official schedule.
"The CIHL regrets that Burns Lake will not be part of the league in the coming season, but understands
the circumstances that have resulted in the decision," says Bill Black, president of the CIHL.
Rose Ruffell of Burns Lake, treasurer of the CIHL, says she plans to continue in her executive role and hopes that the team will rejoin the league next season.
Allan Hewitson, president of the Kitimat Ice Demons and league vice-president said the Demons would
miss their annual jousts with the Burns Lake Braves, who were largely responsible for encouraging
the Demons to join the league, four years ago.