Like all sports leagues around the world, the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League is grappling with the vagaries of the virus. The VIJHL announced its 2020-21 season could begin as early as Sept. 7 or as late as Dec. 14.
The league presented four potential scenarios: A Sept. 7 start with a 48-game regular-season and best-of-seven playoffs, an Oct. 12 start with 40 games and best-of-seven playoffs, a Nov. 16 start with 40 games and best-of-three playoffs or Dec. 14 start with 32 games and best-of-three playoffs.
鈥淚f I was a betting man, I鈥檓 not sure where I would place my money,鈥� said Norm Kelly, co-owner of the Saanich franchise.
鈥淭o me, maybe October 12th makes sense because it would give time to monitor how the NHL teams are doing.鈥�
Everybody would, obviously, prefer the earliest start that is safe.
鈥淲e are hoping it鈥檚 September or October and not November or December,鈥� said Campbell River Storm head coach and GM Lee Stone.
鈥淏ut we have to do our due diligence and have as many options in place as possible if there are setbacks.鈥�
Kelly said the issue is largely out of the VIJHL鈥檚 hands in that the league must follow the Hockey sa国际传媒 and sa国际传媒 Hockey return-to-play guidelines, regardless. Those are being constantly updated as the situation unfolds.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 even play contact hockey, yet,鈥� said Kelly.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 where we are.鈥�
And the province鈥檚 return-to-play guidelines trump those of Hockey sa国际传媒 and sa国际传媒 Hockey.
鈥淲e are waiting for Phase 3 of those because all we can do right now is skate and skills development,鈥� said Stone.
The VIJHL restart, based on current guidelines, would be without fans because of the sa国际传媒 regulation barring gatherings of more than 50 people.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 barely enough for the two teams, referees and scorekeepers,鈥� said Kelly. 鈥淚f the number went up to 200, or something like that, we would look at it [in terms of fans]. But right now, even I would be watching the games via video broadcasting.鈥�
The Western Hockey League, which includes the Victoria Royals, has announced a start date of Oct. 2, which is considered optimistic by many observers because it is predicated on socially-distanced fans in attendance to 50 per cent arena capacity.
The 2020 VIJHL playoffs were cancelled mid-stride March 12 due to COVID-19.
The nine-team VIJHL consists of Saanich, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Oceanside, Victoria Cougars, Peninsula Panthers, Westshore Wolves, Kerry Park Islanders and Comox Valley Glacier Kings.
Due to the pandemic, and budgetary concerns, VIJHL teams would not play regular-season games in 2020-21 outside their South or North divisions.
