Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the cancellation of the 2020 playoffs and spring camps, both vital revenue-generators, and uncertainty about ticket revenue and sponsorships for next season, the B.C. Hockey League has asked the provincial government for financial assistance to offset its losses.

sa国际传媒淲e have every intention of playing hockey next season, with all 18 of our teams, if we get the green light from Hockey Canada as well as the provincial health authorities,sa国际传媒� BCHL commissioner Chris Hebb said. sa国际传媒淏ut, the reality is wesa国际传媒檝e identified potential financial issues down the road due to this pandemic and want to address these problems now.

sa国际传媒淭he league has already lent its support to our teams through a contingency fund, but itsa国际传媒檚 clear that more is needed.sa国际传媒�

According to Hebb, the league sent a letter to Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Lisa Beare on Saturday, April 18, explaining what the league is and the effects the pandemic has had. They are hoping for a response by the end of this week.

sa国际传媒淲e had couple of former politicians that we knew guide us through this,sa国际传媒� Hebb noted on Wednesday afternoon. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not the business wesa国际传媒檙e in; wesa国际传媒檙e not lobbyists.sa国际传媒�

The BCHL cut the 2020 playoffs short after the first round, when Hockey Canada shut down all sanctioned events indefinitely.

Hebb has expressed concerns recently that the league could lose teams as a result of the pandemic. He acknowledged on Wednesday that some of the clubs may be in dire financial straits, although none have said they wonsa国际传媒檛 be back for a 2020-21 season.

sa国际传媒淲e have had no teams indicate they wonsa国际传媒檛 be playing,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒渂ut itsa国际传媒檚 a difficult prospect for teams to be without revenue.sa国际传媒�

The BCHL is a gate-driven league, with the bulk of funds coming from ticket sales.

sa国际传媒淏oth of those are about having people in the seats,sa国际传媒� Hebb commented. sa国际传媒淎t the end of the day, sponsors want people in seats, and ticket sales is our bread and butter.sa国际传媒�

Even major junior hockey, Hebb pointed out, does get some money from broadcasting deals, but the BCHL doesnsa国际传媒檛 have that luxury.

Among sports leagues in the province, the BCHL unique in a number of respects, Hebb said.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e nearly 59 years old,sa国际传媒� he pointed out. sa国际传媒淣ot many leagues have been around that long and have meant so much to so many.sa国际传媒�

The league announced last October that it was expanding into the East Kootenays with the Cranbrook Bucks franchise, and Hebb said he is no more concerned about that club than he is about the other 17. Sponsors are sa国际传媒渟itting on the sidelinessa国际传媒� throughout the league as they wait to see what is going to happen next.

sa国际传媒淲e know wesa国际传媒檙e going to take a hit on sponsorship revenue. Itsa国际传媒檚 the same in Cranbrook as in every one of our markets.sa国际传媒�

The BCHL has several plans in place for if and when they get the go-ahead for a 2020-21 season, including their original schedule of 54 games, as well as backup plans for 50 and 46 games. The owners, he said, want the season to proceed, as do the players.

sa国际传媒淜ids are relying on us as a place to play, and we want to provide it,sa国际传媒� Hebb said, pointing out that the league had a record 172 players commit to U.S. Div. 1 or Div. 3 programs or Canadian university teams, a number that has increased each of the last six years. That represents about $3 million in scholarships.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not only a boon to the community,sa国际传媒� Hebb said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a boon to the kids.sa国际传媒�

There are 10 junior A leagues in Canada, but the BCHL produces about 60 per cent of scholarship players, the commissioner said.

sa国际传媒淲e have something special in B.C. Itsa国际传媒檚 not run-of-the-mill junior A. Itsa国际传媒檚 something that helps kids develop and go to school.

sa国际传媒淲e hope fans realize we are going to turn over every stone to make sure teams are viable. Remember, these teams are really important to their communities.sa国际传媒�

In pursuing funding from the provincial government, the BCHL has gathered letters of support from the mayors of their markets in B.C., as well as the District of Kitimat where the league held its first-ever BCHL Road Show in February.