Adidas Hockey executive Dan Near is the incoming WHL commissioner, the league announced Thursday. His tenure begins on Jan. 1, 2024.
The WHL will have a new commissioner for the first time since 2000, and his name is Dan Near.
The league announced on Thursday on behalf of its board governors that Near, 43, is the incoming commissioner. He starts transitioning into the role of WHL commissioner on Jan. 1, 2024, and officially takes over the full responsibilities from Ron Robison on Feb. 15, 2024.
Robison spent the past 23 years at the helm of the CHL's western circuit, featuring 22 major junior teams from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Washington state and Oregon.
Near served as the head of Adidas Hockey since 2016 and led the way as the company came up with identities and uniforms for the two newest NHL clubs, the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken. Adidas also released the NHL Reverse Retro jersey series for the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons, with twists on past team uniforms or city's histories, and partnered with some of the top players in men's and women's hockey, including Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Sarah Nurse and Kendall Coyne Schofield.
"We set out to find an individual with a great business mind, someone forward thinking who has the ability to help grow the Western Hockey League brand and build upon the existing foundation," said Bruce Hamilton, chairman of the WHL board of governors, in a statement. "As we worked through the process, it became clear that Dan stood above the rest."
Near ranked 52nd in The Hockey News' 2023 list of 100 People of Power and Influence as well as eighth among hockey industry executives. He was also ranked 59th in the 2021 edition and sixth among hockey industry executives.
For more on Thursday's announcement, visit The Hockey News' WHL site.
