BCHL planning December start to regular season

Jul 17, 2020 | 9:09 AM

The BC Hockey League is targeting a Dec. 1 start date for its 2020-21 regular season, pending approval from the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

“We’ve been having discussions with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture since March around a safe return to play,” said BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb. “The PHO has indicated to us that waiting until December gives us the best chance at ensuring we have an uninterrupted season, while also maximizing the amount of regular-season games we’ll be able to play.”

A full schedule with a December start date will be announced at a later date. The pushback to Dec. 1 aligns with the NHL’s plan to start their 2020-21 season.

“The reality is that, for us to be able to operate, we need to have fans in our buildings,” said Chairman of the BCHL Board of Directors Graham Fraser. “It became clear from our discussions with the PHO that the best way to accomplish this would be to delay the start of our season to give them time to assess the effects of a potential second wave of COVID-19 during flu season.”

Teams will have the option to hold an extended training camp from September to November, which will include regular on-ice training. Once the province moves into Phase 3 of viaSport BC’s Return to Play model, exhibition competition with other BCHL teams will be expanded in-region.

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Training camps will be permitted to begin as early as Sep. 8 under current mass gathering restrictions which only allow up to 50 people on the ice and in the stands. Teams may also continue to run summer invite camps up until that date.

“The BCHL’s Return to Play Task Force feels that the extended training camp model will give our players an opportunity to stay engaged and continue to develop their game in a safe environment,” said BCHL Executive Director Steven Cocker. “Our teams will be providing on-ice and off-ice training resources to continue aiding players to achieve their hockey and education goals and to make sure they are ready to go when the season starts.”

The extended training camps will strictly follow the COVID-19 guidelines set out by viaSport BC.

BCHL venues are also preparing for protocols to be enforced once the buildings are open to fans again.

Once exhibition competition resumes, it will be streamed live on HockeyTV and live-scored on the BCHL website. Inter-division competition will be held within regions throughout the BCHL.

The owners of the Vernon Vipers issued a statement following the announcement by the BCHL on the return to play plan:

“We are very excited and optimistic about the start of the season.

As of now our season is set to begin on December 1, 2020.

Once the number of games has been determined along with the special protocols that will be put in place, we will be happy to provide more information.

The Vernon Vipers will also be in touch with all our corporate partners in the coming weeks to determine the best course of action going forward.

We look forward to seeing our fans and partners again very soon and will release more information as it comes available.

Please continue to do your part as we move towards another season!,” said the statement

by BCHL/Vernon Matters Staff

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