SPITFIRES' SEASON STALLED
OHL postpones Feb. 4 start
The Ontario Hockey League continues to live a hamster-wheel existence.
As hard as the league tries to forge on, pushing and pushing to salvage something from the 202021 season, new COVID-19 restrictions makes the cycle start all over again.
First, there was hope of a December restart, which then was rebooted for the hopes of a reduced schedule beginning in early February, possibly with a no-bodychecking edict involved.
On Wednesday, though, the league had little choice but to hit the pause button yet again, announcing an indefinite delay due to the 28-day lockdown restrictions that will begin in Ontario on Dec. 26.
There is a touch of irony in that, given that the latest OHL news came on the same day as the NHL officially announced a 56-game schedule to begin on Jan. 13.
Unlike the NHL, however, there are no broadcast revenues to cushion the blow of the lost revenue from ticket sales.
There’s also no support — financially or logistically — to hold a bubble-like format for junior hockey players in a hub city.
All around the OHL there was disappointment, but no real shock, at the latest decision. When Ontario Premier Doug Ford imposed the lockdown, the OHL’S move was inevitable.
For all that, Ottawa 67’s general manager James Boyd remains an eternal optimist.
“I’m still convinced we’re going to have a season,” Boyd said in a telephone interview Wednesday, after OHL commissioner Dave Branch delivered the harsh reality. “Everyone is committed to that happening.”
After the provincial mandate was imposed, the OHL’S board of governors and general managers met to discuss the immediate future, recognizing the only logical course of action was to take a step back.
Again.
“Training camps had been scheduled to begin in mid-january, many players were set to report to their teams in early January, and games were scheduled to commence on Feb. 4, 2021,” Branch said in a statement. “The league will continue to consult and work closely with governments and health authorities to determine potential start dates in the new year.
“The safety of all our stakeholders and communities is our priority and we are committed to starting the 2020-21 season when it is safe to do so.”
Branch acknowledged that is difficult news for everyone associated with the league — including players, staff, parents, billet families — but that the travel restrictions needed to be respected.
“On behalf of the OHL, we wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season and we look forward to dropping the puck when we safely start the 2020-21 season.”