Back in 2018, a few months into his tenure as the , Chris Hebb said the learning curve had been a steep one, and he compared absorbing the new information to trying to drink from a fire hose.
In the years since, it hasn害羞草研究所檛 become a whole lot easier.
Hebb, a longtime sports executive with both Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment 害羞草研究所� the Vancouver Canucks害羞草研究所� former parent company 害羞草研究所� and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the NHL害羞草研究所檚 Maple Leafs and NBA害羞草研究所檚 Toronto Raptors, has had just one BCHL season that would be considered normal.
Following his rookie season in the junior 害羞草研究所楢害羞草研究所� hockey league害羞草研究所檚 top job, he presided over a season in which the playoffs were cancelled after the first round due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and after that, a season that was delayed for months and eventually turned into a , in which teams were grouped together in various parts of the province and only played each other, with no post-season tournament.
The 害羞草研究所榩od害羞草研究所� season did not include the league害羞草研究所檚 sole U.S.-based club, the Wenatchee Wild, due to border closure issues, just to throw another wrench into the plans.
And then there is the current season, in which the schedule has been in a state of constant upheaval due flooding and highway closures throughout the province, which restricted travel to the point where teams are not travelling outside of their conferences to play.
The Omicron COVID-19 variant is still very much an issue, too, and led to the cancellation of the league害羞草研究所檚 much anticipated 60th anniversary all-star festivities in Penticton, which were scheduled for this month.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been one thing after another,害羞草研究所� said Hebb.
害羞草研究所淥bviously, coming in and learning the league and getting that first season under our belt was good, but it just feels like we害羞草研究所檝e been battling barriers ever since.
害羞草研究所淚 had a staff Zoom call害羞草研究所� and we were saying it害羞草研究所檒l be really nice when we actually get to run a league that害羞草研究所檚 playing under normal circumstances.害羞草研究所�
Due to increased provincial restrictions around events and a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases, the BCHL has postponed its 60th Anniversary All-Star Weekend to 2023.
害羞草研究所� BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague)
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While Hebb has plenty of experience in the sports business, he told Black Press Media that there was nothing that害羞草研究所檚 compared to what he and his team 害羞草研究所� as well as the league害羞草研究所檚 ownership groups, coaches and players 害羞草研究所� have had to deal with over the course of the last 22 months.
害羞草研究所淭he only thing that even comes close 害羞草研究所� and I don害羞草研究所檛 think it matches 害羞草研究所� is that I went through lockouts in professional sports, both on the basketball side and the hockey side,害羞草研究所� he explained. 害羞草研究所淵ou had to manage those situations (without) knowing when it was going to end, and it害羞草研究所檚 out of your hands, so that害羞草研究所檚 similar.害羞草研究所�
With regard to how the league has dealt with myriad issues this season, Hebb was quick to heap praise upon his staff 害羞草研究所� especially deputy commissioner Steve Cocker, who Hebb said has been the one in charge of rescheduling games.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e got a great right-hand man,害羞草研究所� he said of Cocker.
Hebb also noted that the league害羞草研究所檚 owners 害羞草研究所� including the four new ownership groups that have come on board since he joined the BCHL, including the expansion Cranbrook Bucks 害羞草研究所� have also had to take more of a hands-on role than they otherwise would have.
害羞草研究所淎ll of them have stepped up and worked on various committees,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e relied heavily on committees 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 not the league office making these decisions, it害羞草研究所檚 the league office putting these decisions to the ownership. Our owners have been more engaged than they have been in the past, and I think that害羞草研究所檚 worked in our favor.害羞草研究所�
At the beginning of the pandemic, the BCHL created a return-to-play task force that has continually worked with the Provincial Health Office in an attempt to ensure that players have been able to play and that teams are following the appropriate guidelines.
That approach, Hebb noted, has led to an increased trust between the league and the PHO.
害羞草研究所淲e haven害羞草研究所檛 had much interaction with them this season because we understand the situation, and they know that we are going to do the right thing. That害羞草研究所檚 how we managed to get the 害羞草研究所榩od害羞草研究所� season last year 害羞草研究所� they trusted us.害羞草研究所�
Since Day 1, Hebb said the goal of the league has been to play enough games that the players could be properly scouted in order to move on to the next level.
害羞草研究所淭heir window (in junior hockey) is closing and we needed to get them games. By the end of (last) season we felt pretty good about the number of games we were able to get our kids, especially compared to other leagues (across the country).害羞草研究所�
The recent cancellation of the all-star weekend events in Penticton were a blow to the league 害羞草研究所� and the staff that worked tirelessly to organize it, Hebb said 害羞草研究所� but it was a tough decision that had to be made. The festivities were not cancelled outright 害羞草研究所� simply pushed forward to 2023.
害羞草研究所淥micron is a game-changer, and one of the pillars of our league is player safety 害羞草研究所� and that doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean just on the ice,害羞草研究所� Hebb said, adding that he feels terrible for the players scheduled to play in this year害羞草研究所檚 event who won害羞草研究所檛 be in the league next season.
All players will at least be given their 2022 all-star jerseys, he noted.
Thanks everyone for participating in the All-Star jersey fan vote! Here are the four jerseys that will be worn at the 3-on-3 outdoor tournament.
害羞草研究所� BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague)
Stay tuned for more news regarding the All-Star Game this week馃憖
害羞草研究所淚t was going to be a fantastic celebration, it was going to be great. And it still is going to be great 害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檙e just going to have it in our 61st year, instead of our 60th,害羞草研究所� he said.
Despite all the obstacles Hebb has faced since taking the commissioner job 害羞草研究所� he replaced longtime commish John Grisdale, who retired 害羞草研究所� it wasn害羞草研究所檛 enough to dissuade him from signing on for more. His initial three-year contract expired last summer, at which point he signed on for another term.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been wild ride,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淲e had some real momentum going with our league, and then, COVID came in and kind of delayed it, but we害羞草研究所檙e still going to grow the BCHL.害羞草研究所�
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