Are they sticking together?
The CHL consists of the WHL, OHL and QMJHL.
The three leagues come under one umbrella with the basic same rules.
The vast majority of decisions are with the intent to be in the best interest of Major Junior hockey across the country.
Most years they get to compete for the ultimate prize, which is the Memorial Cup.
When it comes to the coronavirus though, indications appear that it is each league for themselves, not really in conjunction with the others.
Evidence of that is the start date for the 2020-21 season.
The QMJHL thought it could beat the punch by dropping the puck for its regular season on Oct. 1.
With many players testing positive for COVID-19, the league temporarily halted play this month.
QMJHL suspends play in Quebec divisions due to coronavirus outbreak – https://t.co/2oKkFcy28S https://t.co/jSHGQYVoDD #hockey #hockeynews
— Hockey24x7 ? (@hockeynews24x7) October 15, 2020
After a number of QMJHL teams had games postponed with their home cities on shutdown, the league, in conjunction with public health experts, announced on Thursday a second stoppage of action. However, this is only for the teams who are based in red zones due to COVID-19 outbreaks pic.twitter.com/U3g2qrBZhz
— Justin Levine (@JustinLevineHBS) October 30, 2020
The WHL insists its regular season, with the number of games still to be determined, will start on Jan. 8 with short training camps to begin right after Christmas.
Mark your calendars! The WHL has an opening date for the 2020-21 regular season!
DETAILS ? | https://t.co/E4L4tDtf7Q pic.twitter.com/lbzHQMBppR
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 14, 2020
This week, the OHL announced a start date of Feb. 4 with a 40-game season to wrap up by May 16.
The OHL’s current plan is to play a 40-game season starting on Feb. 4, @JeffMarek reports.https://t.co/yZjATM75nA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 28, 2020
What does this prove?
Nobody has a definitive answer.
There are still so many questions regarding the impact of the virus on the game and more importantly the players, that opinions are no more than simply guesses whether you live in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada or the USA.
OHL now looking at Feb. 4 start to 40-game season . . . Still lots of unanswered questions . . . World Series aftermath mostly about Turner https://t.co/7KahGT19ob
— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) October 29, 2020
One thing that was again re-iterated in BC this week is that teams likely will not have any fans at least for foreseeable future.
In an effort to curb transmission as numbers continue to skyrocket, Doctor Bonnie Henry implemented a new public health order limiting home gatherings.
Those gatherings are limited to just immediate households, with the addition of your ‘safe six’ only.
“For some large families, that may still be too many,” said Doctor Henry.
She also stated this would not be forever but for the “coming months”.
The latest public health order from Dr. Bonnie Henry “limits gatherings in private homes to no more than your immediate household, plus your safe six.” https://t.co/DvIScME0IJ
— CTV News Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) October 27, 2020
If Doctor Henry is clamping down on how many people are allowed in your bubble, then why would she turn around (without a cure in the form of a vaccine) and give the okay for large gatherings inside an arena?
In times like these, it is important as best we can to have a positive outlook on the future.
Realistically though, we could be looking at 2022 at the earliest before we see some type of normalcy, not only in the WHL but with most sports leagues.
The way the virus is spreading, consider it a bonus if our regular sports routine, or more importantly our daily lives, return before then.
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
As if Green Bay losing 38-10 to the Tampa Bay Bucs last wasn’t bad enough, Jamaal Williams’ pants tore open during the game, exposing his right buttock. So how do they list him on the Packers’ roster now — running back or split-end?
*Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
QB Trevor Lawrence now says he MIGHT stay at Clemson for his senior season rather than opting for NFL draft. Especially if Trevor thinks this year he might be drafted by the NY Jets?
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Now that Tony LaRussa,76, has been named the Chicago White Sox manager, he’ll have to update his trusty, ever-present computer, which won’t be easy. New programs will have to be adapted to those that were related to the ones that broke the Enigma Code.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
IN CASE, YOU MISSED IT
A Denver brewery produces Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout, an alcoholic beverage reportedly made with bull testicles. Remind me to stop ordering highballs.
*Canadian comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the news and sports supervisor and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97.
He also is the 94.3 the Goat radio colour commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
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