To nobody’s surprise, the B.C. Hockey League will not begin the regular season Dec. 8 as planned, and has pushed back the start to the new year.
B.C. health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry increased the length of the provincial pandemic restrictions from Monday, when they were due to expire, through to Jan. 8. Complicating matters was an even further, some found baffling, subsequent order last week banning over-18s from even being allowed to practice with their junior hockey teams, or any teams in any sports. Junior hockey coaches and officials have decried the fact the ruling has effectively cut junior hockey teams in two, severing the 19- and 20-year-olds from the 16- to 18-year-olds.
Many have wondered why not just make the order for 21-year-olds and over to prevent this messy situation?
“We are disappointed our 19- and 20-year-old players are not able to join their teammates in on-ice activities,” BCHL commissioner Chris Hebb said in a statement Monday evening.
“We are working diligently with B.C. Hockey, viaSPORT B.C. and the provincial health office to get our older players on the ice. But at the moment we must follow the provincial health office order as written.”
There are five teams in the Island Division of the BCHL.
Graham Fraser, BCHL chairman of the board, also weighed in: “For the past nine months, the board of governors, league office and the return-to-play task force have done everything possible to do right by our players and the public. Under our provincial health office-approved COVID-19 safety plan, we successfully trained and played exhibition games from September to November, completing 90 games without a transmission. But the current restrictions will not allow us to start our regular season in December.”
Fraser said the league is looking for options.
“We remain committed to exploring every option available to us to start our season safely and as soon as possible, including presenting the concept of a BCHL hub,” he said.
“We look forward to getting things going again in January with all of our players back on the ice.”
The BCHL said 48 per cent of the league is made up of 19- and 20-year-old players, which also impacts the 16-to-18 year olds.
“While the current restrictions only directly affect athletes age 19 and up, there are unintended consequences for our younger players as well,” said BCHL executive director Steven Cocker.
“Although they are still allowed on the ice, the fact remains that half of their teammates are not, which essentially means their teams and the league are forced to pause operations until restrictions are lifted.”
Dr. Henry, in her media update Monday, said that was “not unintended.”
“We are seeing transmission in the U.S. and other sports teams. And right now it is too risky,” she said.
“We don’t want people travelling to different communities. The intent was to reduce that risk right now and to have an extended break for the teams.”
Henry said she has been in discussions with the BCHL.
“It’s about young people returning to their home communities and having time with their families during this period,” she said.
“We know that around the country and around the globe that competitive leagues have had a challenge this year. Everybody is having these challenges. It’s an unfortunate thing in some ways. But it’s also the most important thing we can do right now to make sure we are protecting youth for the future.”
The Western Hockey League, which includes the Victoria Royals, is scheduled to open Jan. 8. But hockey commentator John Shannon tweeted last week: “Hearing plans of WHL to start up in early January may change … might push start date back closer to February.”
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
