This is posted on the BCHL website:
BCHL seeks financial support from provincial government
April 22, 2020
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the BC Hockey League is requesting financial assistance from the provincial government to offset major losses for its teams due to the shutdown of the league.
On Mar. 13, after the first round of the BCHL Playoffs, the league was forced to cancel the remainder of its season due to the pandemic as Hockey Canada shut down all sanctioned events indefinitely. This also includes spring camps run by BCHL teams, which are a major source of revenue.
“We 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,” said BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb. “But, the reality is we’ve identified potential financial issues down the road due to this pandemic and want to address these problems now.
“The league has already lent its support to our teams through a contingency fund, but it’s clear that more is needed.”
With so much uncertainty heading into next season, teams aren’t able to count on ticket revenue for 2020-21 or the same level of support they are used to receiving from sponsors.
“We are seeking the support of the B.C. government and are merely asking for a meeting to explain the economic, social and cultural impact of our teams on the 17 B.C. communities they represent,” said Graham Fraser, Chairman of the BCHL Board of Governors.
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.
3 comments:
I don't think will see BCHL hockey this coming season. I also think you will see a few teams being forced to fold due to financial troubles and losses since the playoffs were cancelled and if the 2020-21 season is cancelled. Let's say there is a season in September, it will be difficult for businesses and sponsors to fork out money for team advertising and sponsorships due to most businesses being forced to close or shorten hours/staff etc. Vernon is like a ghost town in some parts and if there is a season this year, the people who have been laid off work or lost jobs due to COVID-19 it will be hard for teams to draw fans out to games this season with most people either out of work or on ei with a small income. You also have to wonder about the senior citizens who attend Junior hockey games, will they be coming out to games/large gatherings this year if there is hockey? I have talked to a few Viper fans who are seniors and they said they wouldn't be attending games this year if there is a season, due to not only there age but the uncertainty of this virus. If there is no hockey this coming season, what will happen to team rosters/players. The 20 yr olds wont be able to finish there Junior hockey career, while players who were coming back for another season, but leaving the following season for college/university, those kids/players wont be back. If there is no 2020-21 season teams rosters for the 2021-22 season will look completely different on what they would have looked like if there is a season this year. With the 2020-21 season in limbo, I'm surprised your seeing lots of teams still announcing new commitments for the 2020-21 season. A lot of these new recruits/committed players come to the BCHL with already having a scholarship for the following season. If that's the case, some of this years new recruits/committed players wont be playing Junior hockey and head to the NCAA the following season. Everything from scouting to committed players to team rosters will change if there is no season in September. I think you will see "Pay to play" come in to the BCHL.
And VDHF there is no appetite for the public right now to bail out junior hockey. I dont get why the BCHL is asking for tax dollars, unfortunately it's bad timing as simply nobody cares right now.
This was posted on Gregg Drinnan's blog:
Meanwhile, according to a tweet from Rod Pedersen, Ron Robison, the WHL commissioner, told him that the league plans “to open the 2020-21 season on schedule and the June 27 import draft is unchanged.”
That, of course, is what Robison would be expected to say.
The WHL hasn’t yet released its 2020-21 regular-season schedules, but chances are it would begin the weekend of Sept. 25, about five weeks after teams will want to open training camps.
However, you would hope that the WHL has Plan B, Plan C, Plan D and maybe a few others . . . you know, just in case.
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, with 19 teams in B.C. and one — the Spokane Braves — in Washington, normally would open its regular season in mid-September. Steve Hogg, the general manager of the Summerland Steam, has told John Arendt of Black Press that “we have full plans on having a league,” but that it might not get rolling until mid-October.
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