Image credit: KIJHL

By Pete McIntyre-Vernon Matters

Quesnel River Rush

North Okanagan Knights sold and moving to Quesnel

Apr 4, 2024 | 10:21 AM

QUESNEL, B.C. — Armstrong’s junior hockey club is moving to B.C.’s Cariboo region.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League announced Thursday that the North Okanagan Knights franchise has been sold and relocated to Quesnel, where they will be known as the River Rush.

The sale and move was approved unanimously by the KIJHL’s Board of Governors and will take effect immediately.

The Knights had been in the KIJHL since 2009 and played their home games at the Nor-Val Centre in Armstrong. There had been rumours that the team was going to move prior to the April 4 announcement.

The River Rush will be owned and operated by local businessman Tracy Mero, who has previously been the principal owner of the Kamloops Storm since 2019. Part of the KIJHL’s approval process for the sale and relocation to Quesnel involved the sale of the Kamloops franchise from Mero to longtime Storm president and governor Matt Kolle.

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The River Rush will play out of the 1,300-seat West Fraser Centre, which was built in 2017.

“As a hockey parent and coach, it’s always been a dream of mine to bring locally-owned Junior A hockey back to Quesnel,” River Rush owner Tracy Mero said. “I’ve seen the passion from this community over the years and I know how badly parents and kids have wanted to see higher calibre hockey back in this town so that players can stay and play close to home. We have a talented group of board members behind this franchise and so many great ideas to bring exciting events to Quesnel and make this team a success.”

Dale Hladun has been hired as the River Rush’s head coach and general manager. Hladun has previously held similar roles with the Princeton Posse (2005-2013), Fernie Ghostriders (2013-2014) and 100 Mile House Wranglers (2014-2024). In 2016, he led the Wranglers to KIJHL, Cyclone Taylor Cup (B.C. Provincial) and Keystone Cup (Western Canadian) championships.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity Mr. Mero and his organization have provided me to return to Quesnel and be a part of the River Rush hockey club,” said Hladun, who coached with the BCHL’s Millionaires in the late 1990s. “I firmly believe the Quesnel River Rush will run a first class operation for players, our fan base and the north Cariboo, and that this organization will evolve to be among the flagship programs in the KIJHL.”

With the addition of the River Rush, the KIJHL geographic footprint expands a further 120 kilometres north and provides the Cariboo with a third franchise in addition to the 100 Mile House Wranglers and Williams Lake Mustangs.

The North Okanagan Knights had their most successful season in 2012-13 when they advanced to the league finals before a five-game series loss to the Castlegar Rebels. The team was most recently owned by Dean Keller.

“The KIJHL would like to acknowledge the Keller family and all of the volunteers, billets, fans and sponsors who have contributed to 15 years of junior hockey in Armstrong,” KIJHL commmissioner Jeff Dubois said.