BCHL players will finally get to lace up their skates again in early September, though hockey season wonsa国际传媒檛 start until December.

The B.C. Hockey League announced today that it plans to start the 2020-21 regular season Dec. 1. A press release from the league said that its communications with the province and health officials suggested that waiting until December sa国际传媒済ives us the best chance at ensuring we have an uninterrupted season, while also maximizing the amount of regular-season games wesa国际传媒檒l be able to play,sa国际传媒� said Chris Hebb, BCHL commissioner.

Teams are being given the option to start training camp in September, and divisional exhibition games will be able to start once the province moves to Phase 3 of ViaSport B.C.sa国际传媒檚 return-to-play model, the BCHL press release notes.

The Nanaimo Clippers say they plan to open training camp Sept. 8, while the Alberni Valley Bulldogs say theysa国际传媒檙e planning for camp to open Sept. 14. An Island Division exhibition tournament is being planned to start in October and the BCHL news release noted that divisional exhibition games will be live-streamed.

sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 going to be games played in that time, wesa国际传媒檙e just not confident wesa国际传媒檙e going to have a large capacity [for fans],sa国际传媒� said Tali Campbell, Clippers general manager.

He said league governors anticipate that by Dec. 1, theysa国际传媒檒l be able to fill arenas to at least a 50-per cent capacity.

The BCHL hasnsa国际传媒檛 released its regular-season schedule yet.

sa国际传媒淥nce 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,sa国际传媒� noted a statement from Vernon Vipers ownership. sa国际传媒淲e look forward to seeing our fans and partners again very soon.sa国际传媒�

The Bulldogs say theysa国际传媒檙e working closely with municipal staff to make sure their multiplex will be ready to welcome fans back into the building safely once the season starts.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e anxious for the day when we can re-open our doors for our home opener and welcome our amazing fans back,sa国际传媒� said David Michaud, Bulldogs president, in a press release.

BCHL teams rely on ticket sales, and will have limited or no gate during the first few months of the season while absorbing costs of running a junior hockey program.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e certainly having to re-juggle our books and figure out ways to make things work in the larger scheme of things,sa国际传媒� Campbell said.

But he said sa国际传媒渆very governorsa国际传媒檚 on boardsa国际传媒� with the extended training camp model meant to engage players, help them achieve their hockey and education goals, and prepare them for a 2020-21 season.

sa国际传媒淸Players] want to come back sa国际传媒� they want to aim to win a championship here,sa国际传媒� Campbell said. sa国际传媒淭hey want to get back into that culture of things and get going on practising and being part of a team.sa国际传媒�

READ ALSO:

editor@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on