The commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League is pitching municipalities on expansion teams as the league looks to “capitalize on opportunities for growth.”
Bryan Crawford, commissioner of the OHL, made a presentation to Chatham-Kent councillors on Monday, saying the league will commit to granting the area an expansion team if council commits to building an arena fit for one.
Crawford said the 20-team league, which is one of the major player development leagues in the world, set a new all-time attendance record last year, bringing more than 3.2 million fans to regular-season and playoff games.
While OHL teams have been relocated in recent years, the league hasn’t added an expansion team since 1998.
“We’re upwards…