The Western Hockey League will begin play across the Rockies but no clarity was provided for the B.C. Division. The WHL will open the season on Feb. 26, but for Alberta teams only and without fans.
The move to rent out Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre as a homeless shelter from March through May might be an indication the Victoria Royals could play in a B.C. Division single-site bubble, perhaps in Kelowna or Kamloops.
The bubble approach worked for professional soccer’s Canadian Premier League, which includes Island-based Pacific FC, as it played its entire abbreviated 2020 season in Charlottetown, P.E.I.
GSL Group operates the City of Victoria-owned Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Graham Lee, owner of the Royals and GSL Group (formerly RG Properties), could not be reached for comment. WHL commissioner Ron Robison was also asked for comment regarding the Memorial Centre, but the league referred media queries to the Royals.
An option for the Royals is to play in another, smaller Island rink because capacity — the Memorial Centre has 7,006 seats — is a moot issue since it is highly unlikely that spectators will be allowed.
“Different building or different city, the league is looking at all possibilities and options,” said Royals head coach and GM Dan Price. “Every team and every building in the league is facing restrictions right now. Zero, reduced or limited attendance is part of the reality.”
A major impediment for the five B.C. Division teams is that the current provincial health restrictions, which expire Feb. 5, appear likely to be extended. They include no sports games being allowed in B.C. other than those of the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL.
“The WHL continues to work with government and health authorities in each provincial and state jurisdiction to establish a start date for the WHL’s East Division, B.C. Division and U.S. Division,” the league said in a statement. “Approval from the health authorities is required in each jurisdiction for the balance of the WHL Divisions to return to play.”
Approval was reached with the province of Alberta to allow the five teams in the province, which comprise the Central Division, to start the season next month. Each Central Division team will play 24 regular-season games. There will be a maximum of one opponent per week, with a five-day break prior to playing a new opponent. Games will be played home-and-home, back-to-back on weekends.
“It’s a positive step forward,” said Price. “Hopefully, [something can be done] for the rest of the league, as well. The safety issue will be the deciding factor when and where we play.”
The WHL said players and staff from Alberta-based teams will begin self-quarantining on Jan. 30 and report to their teams Feb. 6. They will be tested upon arrival with a further quarantine to follow. Training camps open on Feb. 12. The league will implement weekly COVID-19 tests. If a team has one or more players or staff test positive, the club will not practise or play for 14 days. Coaches and team staff must wear masks during practices and games.
