Alberta Junior Hockey League cleared by province to continue season

As the Western Hockey League divisions get set to return to the ice, the Alberta Junior Hockey League is following suit.

On Friday, the AJHL received approval from the Government of Alberta to restart the 2020-21 season under the protocols of a comprehensive Return to Play Plan.

Players, coaches and support staff are currently self-isolating in preparation for training camps, which are scheduled to begin at the start of March.

Competition will also begin in March and include game play exclusively on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through to the end of May.

“We are grateful for the guidance provided by Alberta Health Services and our Chief Medical Officer in developing the protocols required to safely resume the season for our athletes,” said AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk in a release.

“Thank you to the Government of Alberta for the opportunity to allow our athletes to develop and excel here in Alberta, and to all 15 AJHL teams for the significant dedication to your players and communities across the province.”

Following the results of two negative COVID-19 tests and assurance that individuals are asymptomatic as per the SureHire Risk Assessment Program, team members will proceed to team activity at training camp.

If a member of the AJHL cohort — players or staff — test positive for COVID-19 at any point in the season, the team will be required to isolate and suspend all in-person team activities for 14 days.

Enhanced daily screening for all AJHL players and team staff will be monitored through the SureHire Risk Assessment App and teams will be diligent in following the Government of Alberta’s COVID-19 Public Health Guidelines.

Spectators are not currently permitted at AJHL games due to provincial restrictions, but all games will be broadcast on HockeyTV.

The league completed over 80 games in the opening months of the 2020-21 season before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a pause.

An updated league schedule and a list of participating teams will be announced shortly.