The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) Board of Governors has approved the transfer of ownership of the Calgary Mustangs to Mr. Doug Quinn and the relocation of the franchise to Blackfalds, AB. The new AJHL member will play its inaugural season from the newly expanded Blackfalds Multi-Plex in the 2021-2022 campaign.
“The AJHL is enthused about the opportunity to bring a team into a new Alberta community and add another first-class facility to the League,” said AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk. “We are confident that Mr. Quinn and the Town of Blackfalds will provide a successful new home for the Alberta Junior Hockey League. I would also like to recognize the significant commitment and contributions of the Calgary Mustangs and thank the organization for their efforts in securing the future of the franchise in Blackfalds.”
“I am very excited for the opportunity to bring a Junior A team to Blackfalds,” stated Owner and Head Coach Doug Quinn. “It is a growing and dynamic community, which has shown tremendous support with their commitment to build a new arena. On behalf of myself and the rest of the team, I can guarantee we will be highly motivated and committed over the next two years to build the best culture and team we can. We can’t wait for the rink to be built so we can finally give Blackfalds the Junior A team they have been waiting for.”
Doug Quinn has been in business with his family for over 30 years and is held in the upmost regard in the Red Deer and central Alberta business community. He has grown their family business into a multi-million dollar company and has a huge passion for hockey and coaching. Doug has coached the Midget AAA Optimist Chiefs in eight out of the last 10 years, in that time winning five Alberta Championships, three Pacific Championships and two Telus Cup National Championships.
“The Town of Blackfalds is excited to welcome an AJHL team, under the ownership of Doug Quinn, to our community. The caliber of hockey coming out of the expanded Multi-Plex Arena in 2021 will provide tremendous opportunities for our youth - and young at heart - to not only inspire their hockey careers, but to also watch their community team in action,” said Mayor Richard Poole. “We look forward to continuing the work with the new ownership; the leadership and desire that they have exhibited will create a wonderful partnership,” he adds. “We thank the AJHL, Doug Quinn and Director of Operations Al Parada for their support in bringing this Junior A hockey franchise to the most progressive and supportive town in Alberta.”
The Town of Blackfalds is fast-tracking plans for the Blackfalds Multi-Plex arena expansion to take advantage of a competitive construction market. The plan to twin the Multi-Plex Arena through a $20 million dollar project has long been in the works and construction is now expected to start in Spring 2020. The expansion will include a library, as well as a plaza that when not needed for parking, could be used to host local outdoor events and festivals.
“The Town of Blackfalds is an important part of the central Alberta hockey community that, in recent years, has supported teams at the minor and Junior B levels,” said Rob Litwinski, CEO of Hockey Alberta. “The announcement that Blackfalds is taking the next big step as the newest AJHL franchise is definitely an exciting one for hockey fans in the community and throughout the region.”
The 2019-2020 season marks the 56th season of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The league experienced a rise in attendance throughout the 2018-19 regular season with over 365,000 fans enjoying AJHL hockey across the province – the highest annual attendance mark in the past five years. The next meeting of the AJHL Board of Governors will be at the 2019 AJHL Semi-Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 23.
-Submitted by the AJHL and the Town of Blackfalds