Jeremy Colliton named coach and GM as WHL franchise returns to Chilliwack for 2027-28

The Story

Chilliwack is preparing to host a Western Hockey League franchise again beginning in the 2027-28 season, with the team based in the Fraser Valley set to play in the Western Conference.

The franchise already has key leadership in place. Jeremy Colliton has been named the team’s coach and general manager, and he is also part of the ownership group.

Colliton played WHL hockey in Prince Albert, spent two seasons in the New York Islanders system that included 57 NHL games, and later moved into coaching. His coaching stops include serving as head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks before Manny Malhotra, and taking over the Chicago Blackhawks for three seasons.

“I’m honoured to be back in the Western Hockey League, which played such an important role in my development as a player and person,” Colliton said in a release. “Our family is thrilled to be returning to the Fraser Valley."

Mason Raymond is joining the team as a co-owner. The release says Raymond spent six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks after being drafted in 2005, and that he runs Cochrane GM in his hometown of Cochrane, Alberta.

Along with Raymond and Colliton, the ownership group includes Brett Motherwell, Mario Amentea and Patrick Lathrop. The release says Motherwell played in the AHL and U.S. college hockey, while Amantea is taking on business operations and has a youth hockey coaching background.

The new WHL team is set to take over an arena that previously hosted the WHL’s Chilliwack Bruins. From 2006-07 to 2010-11, the Bruins played out of what was then called the Prospera Centre, which is now the Chilliwack Coliseum.

The release says the Chilliwack Coliseum has space for 5,000 fans and that upgrades have been approved. The arena is also home to the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs.

“We’re excited to welcome the Western Hockey League back to Chilliwack, and look forward to meeting the new ownership group and the team,” Chilliwack Mayor Jason Lum said in the release.

In league alignment, the new team will be part of the BC Division of the Western Conference. The WHL has six teams in that division, and the release notes one team could be moved to the Central Division, though the WHL has not announced it.