Other Junior Leagues Returning To Play Ahead Of BCHL?

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QMJHL set for exhibition season . . . MJHL aiming for Oct. 9 opening

August 20, 2020

The QMJHL will open its 51-game exhibition schedule on Sept. 1 and wrap it up on Sept. 26. It plans on opening its regular season on Oct. 1. . . . Each of the league’s 18 teams will play four, five, six or seven exhibition games. . . . According to the league, the Gatineau Olympiques, Halifax Mooseheads and Charlottetown Islanders “will play all of their preseason games in a neutral site as their buildings are currently not available.” . . . QMJHL teams are opening training camps on Aug. 30. . . . I haven’t been able to find a blanket statement, but it would appear that fans won’t be permitted at any of the exhibition games. The MJHL announced on Wednesday that it is planning to open its 2020-21 regular season on Oct. 9. Training camps are to open on Sept. 18 with each team having 34 or fewer players on hand. . . . Each team will be permitted to play three exhibition games, with none of those against out-of-province teams. . . . From the MJHL news release: “Players/Staff and Officials are required to wear face masks while entering/exiting and within the arena for MJHL sanctioned activities while not on the ice. . . . Players/Staff are required to wear face masks while traveling to and from games (on the bus, entering/exiting restaurants and hotels, etc.) . . . Members of the public are strongly encouraged to wear face masks while in any MJHL facility during MJHL activity while following all necessary distancing and facility guidelines.” . . . The MJHL hasn’t yet released its schedule, but it did say that the schedule “will be significantly modified to mitigate risk of spread or potential contact between multiple teams and to allow for minimal disruption of the schedule in the event of a positive COVID-19 case.”

This is posted on the MJHL website:

MJHL ANNOUNCES RETURN TO HOCKEY FOR 2020-21

AUGUST 19, 2020

WINNIPEG, MB – The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is excited to announce that the 2020-21 Regular Season will begin on Friday, October 9, 2020.

Since early June, the MJHL has worked diligently with Hockey Canada, Hockey Manitoba, Sport Manitoba and Manitoba Public Health Authorities to develop very comprehensive Return to Play (RTP) Guidelines to ensure that our players, fans, staff and communities can return to hockey in a safe, structured and responsible manner in today’s new normal.  All authorities recognize the significant and important role that fitness, sport, and competition plays both physically and mentally in our daily lives, specifically involving the game of hockey within the province and across our country.  And as such, have remained extremely cautious and responsible in managing the approval process of returning to hockey within Manitoba.

Sport Manitoba and the Provincial Health Authorities have done an outstanding job in leading and providing direction to each sport within our Province in returning to play throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Provincial Health Authorities, with the endorsement of Sport Manitoba have agreed to provide the MJHL with the appropriate delegated authority to re-introduce hockey upon approval by Hockey Manitoba.  Authorities will continue to provide regular updates and the necessary guidelines that will be required.  Greater responsibility will now be delegated to the MJHL and each member team as it relates to our full return to hockey.

“On behalf of the MJHL Board of Governors and with the support of Sport Manitoba and approval by the Hockey Manitoba Board of Directors, we are excited to share that MJHL Hockey will be returning to the province in October” shared Commissioner, Kevin Saurette. “We believe our thoroughly provincially vetted MJHL Return to Play – Phase II Guidelines will provide the MJHL, all member teams, players, staff, officials, volunteers, stakeholders, fans and communities with the best position to return to and enjoy hockey in a safe, structured and responsible manner in accordance with all necessary public health and facility guidelines.  The league and member teams also understand the immense responsibility we have been provided as we move forward with the 2020-21 season.”

MJHL Return to Play -Phase ll

MJHL Regular Season to begin on Friday, October 9th.

MJHL Main Camps will begin on September 18th with no more than 34 players in attendance. Teams will play no more than three exhibition games.  Games involving out-of-province teams are not permitted.

The 2020-21 season schedule will be significantly modified to mitigate risk of spread or potential contact between multiple teams and to allow for minimal disruption of the schedule in the event of a positive COVID-19 case.  Full schedule announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

Any upcoming Camps held by teams that are not Main Camps (Prospect Camps, Development Camps, etc.) are to be hosted before September 18th and are to follow the MJHL Return to Play- Phase I which have been in place since June 26th.  Full contact is not permitted during these camps.

Players/Staff and Officials are required to wear face masks while entering/exiting and within the arena for MJHL sanctioned activities while not on the ice.

Players/Staff are required to wear face masks while traveling to and from games (on the bus, entering/exiting restaurants and hotels, etc.)

Members of the public are strongly encouraged to wear face masks while in any MJHL facility during MJHL activity while following all necessary distancing and facility guidelines.

The MJHL RTP – Phase II Guidelines will remain fluid and flexible to accommodate the necessary response to advice from public health authorities.

As is the case for everyone throughout the province and beyond, these past months during the COVID-19 pandemic have placed significant financial stress on each MJHL team and community.  Additional stress will be felt as each organization prepares for what will be required for the upcoming season to ensure we return to hockey in a safe, structured and responsible manner.

Each organization is to be commended for their absolute commitment to providing elite development opportunities both on and off the ice in the face of these financial challenges with the health and safety of all involved always being the number one priority. Teams will need and deserve all the support they can be afforded during this time as we return to the game we all love.

Please stay tuned for further exciting announcements in the coming weeks.

This was posted on the AJHL website:

AJHL Delays Regular Season, Launches Development Season

August 14th, 2020

The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has postponed the start of the Regular Season and will commence the 2020-21 campaign with a Development Season beginning August 31st, 2020.

Within the current boundaries of Hockey Alberta’s Return to Hockey Plan and Stage 2 of Alberta’s Relaunch, the AJHL is unable to enter regular season competition at this time.  The League continues to have progressive discussions with the Alberta government on safety measures to protect players, staff and fans as the AJHL advances into its Development Season.

The Development Season will meet the needs of both the League and its athletes by allowing teams to actively prepare for the upcoming season while providing players an opportunity for high-calibre training and development.  Training Camps will be permitted to begin as early as August 31st in all 15 AJHL communities and will run until the AJHL embarks on regular season play.

Invited players will have the option to register for a respective team’s Development Season or opt out of the camp. 

“As anxious as we all are to return to competition and embrace our communities, public safety and the safety of our athletes has to be the priority,” stated AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk.  “The opportunity for an AJHL Development Season will amplify the League's ability to provide our athletes with a valuable experience through the quality instruction of our coaches and access to team training resources.”

“The Alberta Junior Hockey League will be poised to immediately resume regular season competition when Provincial regulations allow.”  As part of the Development Season, and in preparation for the regular season, the AJHL will move to exhibition play within the Province’s guidelines once rosters are reduced to the allotted size.

The AJHL Development Season outline meets the current health and safety requirements of the Government of Alberta and aligns with Hockey Canada’s Return to Hockey Safety Guidelines and Hockey Alberta’s Return to Hockey Plan in focusing on the safety and wellbeing of all participants.  In addition, teams will commit to using the ABTraceTogether App.

In June 2020, the AJHL announced the schedule for its 57th season, which was strategically created to remove pre-determined blocks of games as part of a contingency plan should the season be delayed.  Plans for the 2021 AJHL Playoffs, 2021 Doyle Cup and 2021 Centennial Cup will be determined at a later date.