This is posted on the BCHL website:
BCHL ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE DEC. 1 START DATE
JULY 17, 2020
The BC Hockey League announced today that it is planning to start the 2020-21 regular season on Dec. 1, pending approval from the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
“We’ve been having discussions with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture since March around a safe return to play,” said BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb. “The PHO has indicated to us that waiting until December gives us the best chance at ensuring we have an uninterrupted season, while also maximizing the amount of regular-season games we’ll be able to play.”
A full schedule with a December start date will be announced at a later date. The pushback to Dec. 1 aligns with the NHL’s plan to start their 2020-21 season.
“The reality is that, for us to be able to operate, we need to have fans in our buildings,” said Chairman of the BCHL Board of Directors Graham Fraser. “It became clear from our discussions with the PHO that the best way to accomplish this would be to delay the start of our season to give them time to assess the effects of a potential second wave of COVID-19 during flu season.”
Teams will have the option to hold an extended training camp from September to November, which will include regular on-ice training. Once the province moves into Phase 3 of viaSport BC’s Return to Play model, exhibition competition with other BCHL teams will be expanded in-region.
Training camps will be permitted to begin as early as Sep. 8 under current mass gathering restrictions which only allow up to 50 people on the ice and in the stands. Teams may also continue to run summer invite
camps up until that date.
“The BCHL’s Return to Play Task Force feels that the extended training camp model will give our players an opportunity to stay engaged and continue to develop their game in a safe environment,” said BCHL Executive Director Steven Cocker. “Our teams will be providing on-ice and off-ice training resources to continue aiding players to achieve their hockey and education goals and to make sure they are ready to go when the season starts.”
The extended training camps will strictly follow the COVID-19 guidelines set out by viaSport BC.
BCHL venues are also preparing for protocols to be enforced once the buildings are open to fans again.
How exciting is this? I'm super excited we could see the Vipers play this fall. I guess it all depends on how many COVID-19 cases are around come November and into December. It will be very interesting to see what the schedule will look like, how many games, and what the attendance situation will be like? I have talked to a few elderly fans that said a few months ago if there is a hockey season, they won't be going this year, due to there age and the risk of catching the virus from others at the games. I also have talked to a friend who billets for another team in the BCHL, that won't be billeting this year, due to COVID-19 and the risks of bringing in strangers from another city, province or country. So many questions that can't be answered right now I think until we get closer to the fall. If all goes well and we have Vipers hockey this year, it will be very weird having to wait until December for the start of the season.
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