A spring that turned suddenly dark with cancellation could lead to a considerably brighter fall for the Western Hockey League.
The league has set Oct. 2 as the tentative start date for the 2020-21 season, and plans on a full 68-game schedule, with socially-distanced fans in the stands.
“It’s a great first step,” said Victoria Royals GM and head coach Dan Price.
“Everyone around the league is feeling a renewed sense of optimism today.”
The final week of the WHL 2019-20 regular-season, and the entirety of the playoffs, were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is a high level of confidence in this [2020-21] return-to-play protocol,” said Price.
But he warned it is contingent on health authorities in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Washington state and Oregon all giving their stamps of approval.
“We have no information yet on specifics such as training camps. Those things will get decided once we are closer to the approval stages from all six jurisdictions because every one of them has to follow the same guidelines when it comes to our league re-opening,” said Price.
That’s what makes the process so complex and intertwined for the WHL.
“This date [Oct. 2] remains contingent on receiving the necessary approvals from government and health authorities in each of the six jurisdictions in WHL territory,” the league said in a statement Wednesday.
The league is adamant about a full schedule being played: “The WHL is committed to protecting the integrity of the WHL regular-season schedule, and fully intends to complete a full 68-game schedule for 2020-21, regardless of when the season begins.”
The WHL is gate-driven and needs spectators for financial viability, even if the fans will be required to be socially distanced to partial arena capacities.
“The WHL is working with government and health authorities in each jurisdiction on the level of spectator capacities that will be permitted in each WHL club arena facility,” said the league.
The WHL said it has appointed special task forces in each of the six jurisdictions to work with government and health authorities to ensure the safety of players, staff, officials and fans: “The outcome of these discussions with government authorities will ultimately determine the start date for the 2020-21 WHL regular season.”
Another key issue is the Canada-U.S. border, which is closed to all but essential travel to at least July 21. The closure is being reviewed by both countries on a month-by-month basis. A potential extension to Aug. 21 would affect training camps for the five WHL U.S. Division clubs and also for Canadian teams with American players.
“The border is an important variable,” said Price.
So is the European import situation.
Each WHL team is allowed two imports. They would need to quarantine for two weeks upon entering Canada under current health regulations.
Victoria’s two import players are captain Phillip Schultz from Denmark and the club’s 2019-20 rookie of the year Keanu Derungs from Switzerland.
“It’s a changing landscape and we don’t know what the protocols will be at the time,” said Price.
Whatever they are, they will need to be adhered to,” he said.
