Fans of the B.C. Junior Football Conference will have to wait for a glimpse of the next future CFL star such as Andrew Harris, who ripped opposition defences during his starry career with the Vancouver Island Raiders.
The BCFC, which normally opens in late July with a 10-game schedule, is now hoping to start on the Labour Day weekend with a reduced six- to eight-game season plus playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a moving target, but we have not given up on having a season,” said Westshore Rebels president Rob Lervold.
“We still have hope. But that’s obviously depending on a few things working out in our favour.”
The Canadian Bowl national championship could be pushed back to the first week of December from the first week of November.
The main source of revenue, however, will be lost to the gate-driven BCFC teams if the province’s indefinite ban on gatherings of more than 50 people is still in effect.
“Having no fans would make it really difficult [financially],” said Lervold.
If the provincial 50-person-or-more gathering ban is lifted or modified in the future, Lervold said he believes up to 1,000 people could be socially distanced in the 6,000-seat Westhills Stadium.
The six-team BCFC includes the Langford-based Rebels, Nanaimo-based Raiders, Langley Rams, Valley Huskers of Chilliwack, Okanagan Sun and Kamloops Broncos.
Some BCFC funding also comes from the 50/50 draw at B.C. Lions games.
The CFL said last week it has delayed its season and is tentatively targeting a September start.
“We’re looking at the CFL,” said Rebels head coach Shane Beatty.
“It’s tough without the CFL [50/50].”
There are other factors to take into consideration, especially since football has the largest rosters of any team sport. There are 65 players allowed on BCFC rosters with about 50 who travel to away games.
“How many players can you safely get on a bus?” Beatty asked.
If the BCFC season is a go, the Rebels look to be a force.
“I’ve had a great recruiting season,” said Beatty.
“We’re just as athletic as our 2016 team that went to the Canadian Bowl national final.”
Nearly 40 of the Rebels recruits are local, including nine from the Mount Douglas Rams high school dynasty. The rest are from across the country.
“We gave the players instructions for at-home workouts,” said Beatty.
The Rebels and Raiders join a long list of Island teams and sporting events affected by the pandemic.
