The toughest phone calls were to the graduating 20-year-olds whose major-junior careers ended without a further puck being shot.
The Canadian Hockey League has scrubbed the playoffs, including the 2020 Memorial Cup national championship tournament scheduled for May in Kelowna. The Western Hockey League, which includes the Victoria Royals, is part of the CHL, along with the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The CHL had earlier called off the remainder of the regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is obviously a feeling of empathy for the players, fans and staff,” said Royals head coach Dan Price. “We are very proud of what we accomplished to this point and we felt we were building to something great in the playoffs and there is a feeling of what could have been.
“But there are more important issues in the world at the moment and the health and well-being of everybody involved is the most important thing.”
Price called his players Monday and the conversations with 20-year-olds Will Warm, Gary Haden and Shane Farkas were especially poignant.
“Everybody is proud of what we did this season, and what might have been in the playoffs as we were getting back to being fully healthy, but everyone also understands there is a larger situation happening in the world,” said Price.
The Royals’ 2019-20 campaign will go into the books at 32-24-8. The final standings were determined by win percentage, leaving Victoria third in the B.C. Division. It kept alive the club’s streak of having qualified for the playoffs every season since the franchise moved to the Island in 2011-12. Only two other WHL teams — Everett and Portland — have managed to accomplish that in that span.
But mere statistics pale in the face of a pandemic that has taken away so much from the world of sport in a matter of a few head-snapping weeks. It is ironic that sport’s greatest attribute — its ability to bring people together — is its greatest detriment in this pandemic.
“It’s bringing everyone together in another way, however,” Price said.
“A lot of people are reaching out to each other via phone and social media. We are apart yet together. I have talked more with family, friends and former players in the last week than I have in the last year.”
The CHL could see no conceivable way forward this spring and cancelled the Memorial Cup for the first time in its 102-year history. That likely leaves Kelowna out of luck as the 2020 host that never was. The CHL indicated Monday it will continue in its hosting rotation between leagues and that the 2021 Memorial Cup will be staged by the OHL with Oshawa and Sault Ste. Marie the two finalists.
“Nothing is more important to the WHL than the health and safety of our players, officials, staff, and fans,” said league commissioner Ron Robison in a statement.
“Without any ability to predict as to when it will be safe and responsible to return to play, the WHL has made the difficult decision to cancel the playoffs and balance of the 2019-20 season. All of us at the WHL will continue to do our part in battling this virus so that we may be in a position to enjoy more WHL hockey.”
Price, when prompted, allowed himself a wistful look ahead to training camp in late summer, if indeed, there is one depending on the duration of the pandemic.
“This will make everyone really grateful when normal things like training camps can be contemplated again,” said Price.
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