UPDATE: BCHL to play shortened season starting in April

The B.C. government said the five pod cities will be Vernon, Penticton, Chilliwack, Coquitlam and Port Alberni.

“After months and months of hard work behind the scenes by the league’s 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,” BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb said. “This 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.”

The condensed season will begin the first week of April. A full schedule will be released in the coming weeks along with details on the pod locations.

“We want to thank the PHO, the Chief Medical Health Officers and regional public health staff for working with us on our proposal over the past few weeks and getting it to a point that both sides felt was safe,” Chairman of the BCHL Board of Governors Graham Fraser said. “We proved in our extended exhibition season in the fall that our Covid-19 safety plan was effective after playing 89 games with zero transmissions, and we look forward to working within that system again.”

“It’s 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.”

The BCHL has hired a chief medical officer who will oversee all Covid safety protocols for the five-week season, including testing and a quarantine period for players and team staff.

“At the end of the day, our league is all about getting players scholarships and moving them on to the next level to allow them to pursue their athletic and educational goals,” said BCHL Executive Director Steven Cocker. “With no games since November, it has been difficult for these players to get noticed by college programs and, as a result, we’ve seen a significant effect on the number of college commitments in the league this year. With a shortened season now in place, we are thrilled to get our players back in the spotlight and give them the attention they deserve.”

Further information will be provided this weekend as the BCHL works out the final details.

The revised plan from the BCHL has improved safety protocols in place including health screening and testing, limited travel, “pod” cities and a pre-season quarantine plan. Protocols are also in place to limit interactions between players, coaches and staff from the BCHL, and the communities they play in.

“Sports are important for young people’s development and we understand how hard the time away from friends and teammates has been,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “I 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.”

UPDATE Mar. 12

The BC Hockey League is expected to announce the status of its season today.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the league will be returning to play.

One report suggested the season could resume in just over two weeks using five hubs.

Report: #BCHL receives approval to play 2020-21 regular season

👤 | Brian Wiebe (@Brian_Wiebe)
📰 | https://t.co/BsyVF0I69u #BCHLNetwork #CoastalConference #COVID19 #InteriorConference pic.twitter.com/XrevltpS6z

— BCHLNetwork (@BCHLNetwork) March 12, 2021

March 5 BCHL delays decision on season status

The fate of the BC Hockey League season will be decided next week.

The league’s board of governors has agreed to push a vote on the status of the 2020-21 season to early next week due “to ongoing dialogue between the league office and the office of the provincial health officer.”

An update on the status of the 2020-21 season. pic.twitter.com/srhXWYZk7T

— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) March 6, 2021

The league is trying to get approval for its return to play plan, which Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said on Tuesday (Mar. 2) had several concerns that needed to be addressed.

Premier John Horgan said today (Mar. 5), with 17 different teams in play, the BCHL plan is more “complicated” than the Western Hockey League, adding that Dr. Henry wareviewingng the BCHL’s plan, with no decision as yet

Horgan also said the province is looking “very seriously” at the $9.5 million aid package asked for by both leagues to compensate for no fans in the stands.

“I hopeful we’ll have more to say about that in the days ahead,” Horgan told a virtual news conference.

by Pete McIntyre

UPDATE: BCHL to play shortened season starting in April

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