Vancouver "quietly has landed yet another hockey
franchise," as the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) has
awarded the city an expansion team, according to Stuart
Hunter of the Vancouver PROVINCE. The addition of the
Griffins brings the Canadian-based league to ten teams and
the team will begin play in September 2000. NWHL President
Susan Fennell said that the NWHL is "now officially
national." Fennell: "Certainly, for the league, it's an
important link to catapult us to the West Coast." Hunter
noted that the NWHL Finals "will be televised live" on the
Women's Television Network in mid-March (PROVINCE, 1/24).
NWHL VP and Ottawa Raiders GM Mel Avery, on the addition of
Vancouver: "This is great news, but it also means we're
going to have to raise another $30,000 to cover our [home
game] costs." Avery added, "We will be looking for a major
sponsor to help us" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 1/25). Other NWHL
teams are: the Brampton Thunder, Beatrice Aeros (Toronto),
Clearnet Lightning (Ajax), Laval Le Mistral (Montreal),
Mississauga Chiefs, Montreal Wingstar, Sainte-Julie Panthers
(Quebec) and the Scarborough Sting (Van. PROVINCE, 1/24).
