Off-season changes to the structure of the East Division in Provincial Junior A hockey will benefit both the Port Hope Predators and Cobourg Cougars, state officials from both teams.

The East Division, which Port Hope and Cobourg call home, could have two less tenants by the time the puck drops next season, says Bob Hooper, Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL) commissioner.

The Oswego Admirals, added to the East Division two years ago, have set sail for the South Division and will be called the Toronto Dixie Beehives. The move has been approved by the OPJHL and awaits Ontario Hockey Association approval.¨ The Bancroft Hawks could be grounded if its new ownership does not fulfill OPJHL obligations tied into their purchase of the club, Hooper says. Bancroft's ownership has until the OPJHL's annual general meeting of May 23 to meet league requirements.

"They have not paid their bills and the future of the team is up in the air at the moment," says Hooper. "There possibly could be no team in Bancroft next season."

The loss of Oswego and possibly Bancroft will help the remaining eight teams in the East Division, says Tim Clayden, Predators hockey operations director.

"Without Oswego you have eliminated the longest road trip of the year, we will not miss those trips there," explains Clayden. "Without Oswego and Bancroft it will be less of a load on everyone's travel budgets."

Crossing the U.S. border and bad weather made the Oswego road trip a gruelling day-long affair at times, says Clayden. During this year's playoffs that combination shortened the Port Hope and Oswego series from a best of seven affair to a best of five.

Bill Brady, Cobourg's head coach, also has no issues with never seeing Oswego again.