Victoria Royals general manager Cam Hope said the suspension of the Western Hockey League season was a difficult but necessary decision.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a global situation and everyone has to assume their role,鈥� said Hope.
鈥淲e know what the risks are of under-reacting. The position of the league is a smart one.鈥�
Following the lead of major pro leagues, the major-junior WHL will not play games until further notice, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Royals had four scheduled games remaining in the regular season, tonight and Saturday against the Prince George Cougars at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, and a home-and-away set next weekend against the Everett Silvertips. All of those games are off for now.
鈥淭he players are disappointed, obviously,鈥� said Hope.
鈥淏ut they understand the situation. They know we are in a holding pattern. We鈥檒l see how things are in a week or two. We will know more over the next week. The COVID-19 situation is on-going. We鈥檒l have a better idea next week what the timelines are.鈥�
The regular season is unlikely to be completed. There is speculation that if and when the league resumes, it is likely to go right into the post-season. The Royals have clinched a playoff berth.
鈥淭his is all still fresh. It鈥檚 too soon to tell what will happen,鈥� said Hope.
鈥淚t reminds me of the aftermath of 9/11,鈥� said the former assistant GM of the New York Rangers of the NHL.
鈥淚 was in New York at the time and training camp was underway. The key, then as now, is in knowing what is your role. Our role right now is to follow the instructions of the people who make the decisions. The risk is low here but we play in four provinces and two U.S. states.鈥�
One of those states, Washington, has become an epicentre of the pandemic in the U.S. Even if games had gone ahead, it was previously announced that the Royals鈥� scheduled game next week in Everett, Washington, would have been played without fans attending.
There are two components to COVID-19 as it relates to sporting events. One concerns the players themselves, who are in close proximity in dressing rooms and buses.
鈥淚 am not aware of any infections in the WHL,鈥� said Hope.
The other is about the crowds that gather for sporting events. It is ironic that sport鈥檚 greatest attribute 鈥� its ability to bring people together 鈥� is its greatest detriment in terms of COVID-19.
鈥淭he Royals have played [nearly 350] home games [since 2011-12] and each one of those has been the largest gathering on Vancouver Island that day,鈥� noted Hope.
鈥淲e [look forward] to getting back to that.鈥�
All three major-junior Canadian Hockey League circuits 鈥� WHL Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior League 鈥� have shut down for the time being.
鈥淭he WHL takes the safety of our players, officials, staff, fans, and everyone associated with the WHL, very seriously,鈥� said WHL commissioner Ron Robison, in a statement.
鈥淲e will continue to monitor on-going public health developments regarding COVID-19. Our goal is to return to play when it is safe and reasonable to do so.鈥�
Robison said he thanked fans for their 鈥減atience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented time.鈥�
The Tokyo Olympics this summer could be salvaged because of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the luxury of time.
In a head-snapping spin over the past two days, it has suddenly become more about the very immediate in sports.
That鈥檚 because experts are noting that where aggressive, even harsh, social-distancing measures were taken early, the pandemic has flattened in places such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Italy is being used as an example of a country that did not act quickly or robustly enough. Health experts say this is the inflection point in North America with the next four to eight weeks the key to abatement.
A big part of that will be the curtailment of sports in that period.
sa国际传媒 HOCKEY LEAGUE: The highly-anticipated Island Division playoff final between the Nanaimo Clippers and Cowichan Valley Capitals was scheduled to start tonight in the Habour City, but has been postponed, along with the rest of the BCHL post-season, until further notice.
鈥淭he Clippers support the decision by Hockey sa国际传媒 and the BCHL to suspend the playoffs due to the current COVID-19 outbreak,鈥� said Nanaimo GM Tali Campbell, in a statement.
鈥淎lthough this is super disappointing and frustrating to our staff, players, and supporters, we understand the seriousness and need to take all steps.鈥�
PACIFIC FC: The Canadian Premier League of soccer, which includes Island-based Pacific FC, said it is monitoring the situation.
鈥淚t is important to note that the CPL鈥檚 season does not start until April 11th and we are not playing in public venues at this time,鈥� said the league, in a statement.
鈥淲e will maintain our consistent dialogue and as more information becomes available, we will continue to provide public updates. This includes details about potentially rescheduling or postponing matches.鈥�
PFC鈥檚 season opener is scheduled for April 11 against FC Edmonton at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
VICTORIA SHAMROCKS: The Victoria Shamrocks, who are scheduled to open May 22 against the Burnaby Lakers at The Q Centre, have quite a while before their Western Lacrosse Association season starts.
鈥淲e are monitoring developments at this point,鈥� said Shamrocks GM Chris Welch.
The WLA governors are expected to address the issue at their meetings this week.
VICTORIA HARBOURCATS: The H-Cats are set to open their West Coast League baseball season June 5 at Royal Athletic Park against the Ridgefield Raptors of Washington State.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just under three months away. This is early for us, yet,鈥� said Jim Swanson, GM and managing partner of the H-Cats.
鈥淪o we are in no position to make any decisions like that.鈥�
The WCL鈥檚 source of players for summer ball 鈥� university and college -- have now been shut down by the NCAA. They will be antsy and could be rarin鈥� to go by summer.
CURLING: The Victoria Curling Club has cancelled play for the balance of the season. The upcoming sa国际传媒 U-18 championships in Parksville and sa国际传媒 mixed in Abbotsford are also off.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: An update on the sa国际传媒-Trinidad men鈥檚 soccer games March 27 and 31 at Westhills Stadium is expected today from sa国际传媒 Soccer.
The situations are being monitored, but preparations continue, for the women鈥檚 rugby sa国际传媒 Sevens on May 2-3 at Westhills Stadium and the men鈥檚 Tokyo 2020 Olympic basketball qualifying tournament June 23-28 at the Memorial Centre.
