Hockey's Vancouver North East Chiefs are moving to Coquitlam this season.
The B.C. Major Midget League team has called Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows home since the inception of the high-performance loop in 2004 but will be playing their home games this season at Planet Ice in Coquitlam.
Chiefs head coach Doneau Menard said the move made sense given the team already practises in Coquitlam and the majority of the team's players hail from the Tri-Cities.
"As a coach, it's easier to play in the same rink where we practice," Menard said.
He added the move is also convenient for the majority of players on the team.
"For whatever reason, we're not getting many kids from Maple Ridge," Menard said. "We'll see how it works but I think this will work out better for our team."
Last season, the team had only three players from Maple Ridge on its 20-player roster.
Menard thanked the Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association for being accommodating with ice time, as said the move will free up more ice for local-area teams.
The Chiefs finished sixth in the 11-team provincial league last season, ending up with a 16-17-7 regular-season record.
The BCMML was established in 2004 to provide elite 15- to 17-year-olds an opportunity to play within their own age group at a high level and be developed for the next level of hockey. Teams in the league have an opportunity each year to compete for the national Midget championship.
The North East Chiefs catchment area covers Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.
For more information about the BCMML, visit www.bchockey.net/mml/
