For a third time, the start of the Western Hockey League’s 2020-21 regular-season has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league’s Board of Governors pushed the start date back to Friday, January 8…contingent on approval from the six jurisdictions that contain the 22 teams. The W-H-L says all regular-season play will stay within divisions. Swift Current will move from the Central to the East Division and join the other four Saskatchewan-based teams and the two Manitoba squads. That leaves three five-team groups in Alberta, B-C and the U-S. Players will report to their teams following the Christmas break in order to prepare for the January 8 start. The regular-season was initially supposed to start September 18, but was pushed back to October 2 in June and then to December 4 in August. The 2019-20 season was cancelled on March 12 when the pandemic was declared. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE ANNOUNCES
OPENING DATE FOR 2020-21 REGULAR SEASON
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League Board of Governors announced today the WHL Regular Season is scheduled to open on Friday, January 8, 2021.
The WHL continues to work with each of the Governments and Health Authorities in the Provinces and States in Western Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, respectively, on obtaining the necessary approvals to commence play. Details regarding the schedule of games in each of the four WHL Divisions will be announced at a later date.
The WHL has agreed that all Regular Season games during the 2020-21 season will be played exclusively within the boundaries of each of the four Divisions, with the East Division consisting of the seven Saskatchewan and Manitoba-based teams; the Central Division consisting of the five Alberta-based teams; the B.C. Division consisting of the five B.C.-based teams; and the U.S. Division consisting of the five teams located in Washington and Oregon.
“The WHL is very excited to be opening our WHL Regular Season on January 8,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “The WHL is a world-class development league and we remain fully committed to providing our players with the highest level of training, coaching, and competition in the system.”
All WHL players will be reporting to their respective WHL Clubs following the Christmas break where they will begin training in preparation for the opening of the WHL Regular Season on January 8.
The WHL also announced today it has appointed Dr. Dhiren Naidu of Edmonton as the WHL Chief Medical Advisor. Dr. Naidu, an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta and Head Team Physician for the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and CFL’s Edmonton Football Team, served as the NHL Medical Director for the NHL hub, which just concluded in Edmonton. Dr. Naidu will be assisting the WHL with the implementation of its comprehensive health and safety protocol, in consultation with Provincial and State Health Authorities.
The WHL looks forward to continuing work with Government and Health Authorities in our region and will implement any measures that are necessary to protect our players, staff, officials, and fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. A final determination has not yet been made as to whether spectators will be permitted to attend WHL games as this will be subject to the approval of the Health Authorities in each jurisdiction.
