The BC Hockey League is returning to the ice.
The junior 害羞草研究所楢害羞草研究所� circuit announced Friday morning that its board of governors had approved a 2021 season 害羞草研究所� significantly shorter than a traditional schedule 害羞草研究所� following the Provincial Health Office accepting the league害羞草研究所檚 proposal for a 害羞草研究所渟afe return to play害羞草研究所� plan.
The shortened season will be played in a 害羞草研究所減od害羞草研究所� model, where three to four teams will play each other in five different locations across the province. The BCHL release did not specify what cities would serve as hubs, but in a separate announcement by the provincial government Friday afternoon, Penticton, Coquitlam, Chilliwack, Vernon and Port Alberni were listed as the hubs.
The condensed season will begin the first week of April, and a full schedule will be released 害羞草研究所渋n the coming weeks害羞草研究所� according to the league.
害羞草研究所淎fter months and months of hard work behind the scenes by the league害羞草研究所檚 Return-to-Play Task Force, we are pleased to make the announcement today that the BCHL will be back on the ice to play the 2020-21 season,害羞草研究所� said BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb in a news release.
害羞草研究所淭his entire process has always been about our players and giving them the best chance to get back to playing games and showcasing their skills, and we have accomplished that today.害羞草研究所�
Prior to releasing details on the return-to-play plan, the BCHL official Twitter account posted a simple, two-word message: 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e back.害羞草研究所�
A quick update...
害羞草研究所� BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL)
害羞草研究所淪ports are important for young people害羞草研究所檚 development and we understand how hard the time away from friends and teammates has been,害羞草研究所� said B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix in a release.
害羞草研究所淚 know that Dr. Henry and her team are working hard to determine how to safely return more leagues back to the field of play this spring.害羞草研究所�
The BCHL has hired a chief medical officer who will oversee all COVID-19 safety protocols for the five-week season 害羞草研究所� including testing and a quarantine period for players and team staff.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a long road for everyone involved with the league since we were shut down in November, but we are grateful that we get a chance to finish what we started and get our young athletes back on the ice,害羞草研究所� said Graham Fraser, chair of the league害羞草研究所檚 board of governors.
The BCHL害羞草研究所檚 2020-21 season has been delayed numerous times.
Last fall, teams 害羞草研究所� except for the Powell River Kings and U.S.-based Wenatchee Wild 害羞草研究所� played a handful of exhibition games within cohort groups, which the league deemed a 害羞草研究所渢raining season,害羞草研究所� and the regular season was set to open Dec. 2. That date was due to health orders, and then pushed forward and February as provincial COVID-19 restrictions were held in place.
Due to the continued closure of the Canada-U.S. border, Wenatchee is not part of the renewed season.
sports@peacearchnews.com
Like us on and follow us on
