RENO, Nevada, Sept. 2 - The West Coast Hockey League today announced the appointment of Michael G. McCall as President and also announced that the league offices would be relocating to Boise, Idaho.
McCall, 38, spent the past four seasons as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the National Hockey League's (NHL) New Jersey Devils. With the Devils, he was responsible for the strategic planning and management of all Devils sales and marketing efforts. McCall coordinated the club's playoff operations for all four rounds during the Devils 1995 Stanley Cup Championship run.
"I am excited about the opportunity to serve as President of the West Coast Hockey League," said McCall. "The WCHL has tremendous growth potential, and I am here to help the league continue to develop into one of the premier minor professional hockey leagues."
Prior to joining the Devils, McCall was Director of Marketing for the International Hockey League (IHL). With the IHL, he negotiated the league's first national television package with Prime Network and SportsChannel affiliates, instituted a national licensing program, and assisted in IHL expansion efforts in Cincinnati, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; Cleveland, Ohio; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Denver, Colorado.
McCall's background also includes having served as a vice president of Premier Sports Marketing, Inc., of San Francisco, California, and Executive General Manager of Continental Sports Corporation in Kennewick, Washington.
McCall, his wife Ann, and their two children - daughter Casey, 7, and son Greg, 5 - reside in Boise, Idaho.
The WCHL enters its third season of play in 1997-98 with nine teams spanning six states and three time zones. The 1997-98 WCHL season begins on October 10 as the Phoenix Mustangs visit the Anchorage Aces.
RENO, Nevada, Sept. 2 - The West Coast Hockey League today announced the appointment of Mike Meyers as Vice President of Operations. Meyers served the WCHL as Commissioner during the league's first two seasons.
Meyers, 48, joined the WCHL after spending 11 years in the International Hockey League (IHL). During his tenure as WCHL Commissioner, the league received recognition as a top minor professional hockey league by the IHL for the development of players and by the National Hockey League (NHL) for the development of officials.
"Having someone with Mike Meyers' background and experience in the position of Vice President of Operations will only enhance the strength of the West Coast Hockey League," said WCHL President Mike McCall.
"I look forward to working with new President Mike McCall as the West Coast Hockey League continues to grow into one of the elite minor professional hockey leagues," said Meyers.
Meyers supervised the day-to-day hockey operations of the IHL from 1990 until joining the WCHL in 1995. Prior to that, he served in a number of capacities with the IHL, beginning as Director of Information. During his tenure with the IHL, Meyers directed a tremendous growth of the league from nine teams located in the Midwest to 19 teams in major markets from coast to coast.
Meyers began his career in hockey after receiving his B.S. degree from Purdue University and his M.B.A. from Indiana University.
The WCHL enters its third season of play in 1997-98 with nine teams spanning six states and three time zones. The 1997-98 WCHL season begins on October 10 as the Phoenix Mustangs visit the Anchorage Aces.