Junior A Hockey Coming to Steinbach

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s (MJHL) Board of Governors announced today that the Beausejour Blades franchise has been re-located to the community of Steinbach, MB. As per MJHL By-laws, a formal application to re-locate the Blades franchise was received and reviewed by the MJHL Board of Governors. The Board of Governors approved the re-location on April 9, 2009, to be effective for the upcoming 2009 – 2010 season.

To encourage success for the re-location to Steinbach, the MJHL Board felt that the ownership group had to have a local Steinbach component. To that end, the hockey club owner, Mr. Mel Sonnenberg, sold a portion of his interest in the club to members of the new Team Advisory Board.

Another key component for the re-location application being approved by the MJHL Board was the support of the City of Steinbach and its Recreation Services department. In particular, the MJHL Board was encouraged by the City of Steinbach’s commitment through a three year deal for the club to play its games at the T.G. Smith Centre.

MJHL Commissioner, Mr. Kim Davis said, “The MJHL members are excited to be able to showcase their great hockey product in the community of Steinbach. As a League, we have long felt that Steinbach would be an excellent market to develop and to grow the Junior hockey market in Manitoba. Steinbach has a tremendous reputation as a community with spirit, energy and support of worthwhile local endeavors. It is our hope that the new ownership group will maintain and grow the great hockey tradition this region is known for and that the many nearby communities will embrace the MJHL franchise now located in Steinbach.”

For more information contact Mr. Kim Davis, Commissioner, Manitoba Junior Hockey League by phone at 204–488–1227 or by email at commissioner@mjhlhockey.ca