The future of the Western Hockey League in Chilliwack remains unclear and mayor Ken Popove confirmed that feeling during an interview on 89.5 JR Country FM on Thursday (May 14) morning.
There has been little to no news related to the proposed expansion franchise since the WHL announced in October that the team’s debut season would be pushed back one season to 2027-28.
The @City_Chilliwack mayor Ken Popove went on @895jrcountry this AM and stated that @TheWHL has "ghosted" them. He's not sure what's happening with the team.
Also said social media chatter last month saying the city had cold feet on a possible deal is a "pile of crap".
Audio – pic.twitter.com/fpG5W53bRU
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) May 14, 2026
Popove was asked about what’s happening with the team’s arrival and stated there hasn’t been much recent communication between the league and the city.
“They’ve pretty much ghosted us,” he said. “I don’t have any sort of knowledge about what’s going to happen. I certainly hope they find their ownership group, but it’s not a cheap proposition.”
The city took over management of the Chilliwack Coliseum on May 1 and have started necessary upgrades to get the arena ready for the WHL. However, Popove said time is running out for the city to receive details on the team.
“We need to know here sometime in June,” he said. “Because we’ve set aside x number of dollars to bring the arena up to the WHL standards – the boards, the glass, the score clock, press box and the clock is ticking. We need to know because things take time to order so it’s up to the WHL and their board of governors to make a decision. And I hope it’s still Chilliwack.”
City of Chilliwack ready to take over operations at Coliseumhttps://t.co/jjNsOpFluL
— Abbotsford News (@AbbyNews) April 24, 2026
Popove also pushed back on social media chatter last month that saw Abbotsford Canucks broadcaster Brandon Astle state on X that the city of Chilliwack got cold feet on an alleged deal with the Vancouver-based MRG Group.
“I’ve seen some social stuff where there was a group that was interested and the city got cold feet – no that’s a pile of crap,” he said. “We’re still all in. We’re just waiting for someone to raise their hand and say yeah we’ll write the cheque.”
Fraser Valley hockey rumblings: Hearing the MRG group had a deal done to own the new Chilliwack @TheWHL franchise, but all of a sudden @City_Chilliwack got cold feet
…
— Brandon Astle (@brandon_astle) April 19, 2026
Black Press Media did reach out to the WHL last month for comment following the post on social media, but the league has not responded. MRG Group was also contacted for comment last month, but a response has not yet been received.
WHL commissioner Dan Near did speak about Chilliwack to the website MyPrinceGeorgeNow on April 14 and at that time he said the league was in an exclusive negotiation with a successful bidder. However, Astle’s post on X came four days after that interview, which could indicate a deal fell through between April 14 and 18.
BPM did reach out to the city of Chilliwack who said on April 27 that things are going according to plan.
“We anticipate that a WHL team will join the Coliseum as a primary tenant under a team license agreement, in accordance with the WHL’s timelines,” they stated.
The city chose not to answer questions posed related to the MRG Group news.
The next big event on the WHL calendar is the 2026 Memorial Cup, which occurs in Kelowna and runs from May 21 to 31.
The BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs will call the Coliseum home for the 2026-27 season.