At the Chesapeake Bay Hockey League’s monthly meeting on June 15th, the CBHL board of directors voted to accept the membership applications, on a provisional status, from The St. James Hockey Club and the Loudoun Knights Hockey Club.  Both clubs will submit one team each in the 10U and 12U age groups for the 2020-2021 season.  These teams are not eligible to participate in the CBHL playoffs during the 2020-2021 season.

“We are excited to welcome The St. James and Loudoun Knights to the league,” said Debbie Moon, CBHL Commissioner.  “The D.C., Maryland, Virginia area is one of the fastest growing youth hockey regions in the country.  Adding these two clubs will not only expand the competition pool in our league, but it will provide opportunities for players that have not tried hockey to be able to play at rinks that are nearby.” USA Hockey reported that the Southeast District has surpassed the Minnesota District in total player count, marking the Southeast District second out of the twelve districts. 

According to the CBHL By-Laws, applications for CBHL membership by a club are submitted to the CBHL board of directors for consideration. The CBHL board of directors is made up of one representative from each of current member clubs.  As part of the application process, clubs desiring to join the league must demonstrate sound financial resources to support their operations, demonstrate adequate organizational capacity to support an ongoing youth hockey program, and the applicant club must outline growth plans including structure, rink utilization and plan for growth at the 8U level.

Newly admitted clubs to the CBHL are in a provisional status for their first two seasons in the league. At the end of their first provisional season, provisional clubs can enter teams in all CBHL age groups.  At the completion of the second provisional season, the CBHL board of directors vote to allow the provisional club as permanent member, continue its probationary status for another year, or terminate membership.  A provisional member club has the same rights and privileges as regular members, except for the right to vote on its application to become a regular member.

The addition of The St. James Hockey Club, who play out of The St. James Sports, Wellness and Entertainment Complex in Springfield, VA and the Loudoun Knights Hockey Club who play out of the ION International Training Center in Leesburg, VA bring the total number of clubs in the league to 23.