Ontario’s sport minister: OHL return to play would be ‘irresponsible’ right now

Ontario’s minister of sport says it would be “irresponsible” to approve a return to play for the Ontario Hockey League right now.

Sports Minister Lisa MacLeod spoke on Thursday and said that the province was days away from approving the OHL’s plan to return to play in late March when the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest in Ontario.

She said that although she had been hopeful there would be an OHL season in 2021, there was no way to justify the league returning given how quickly variants of concern can spread.

“We’re starting to see some outbreaks in other leagues, outbreaks even in the NHL, and so we just really need to be very mindful of these young athletes and their longterm health,” said MacLeod.

The OHL is the only major junior league under the Canadian Hockey League umbrella not to begin a 202021 season. The Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League have both played modified schedules this year.

The OHL said in a statement Thursday that a returnto-play was given conditional approval, but “the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across the province, paired with the latest reinstatement of a stay-at-home order, have put increased pressure on these plans.”

The league said it would provide a further update in the coming days.

The CHL cancelled the Memorial Cup, Canada’s major junior championship, on Tuesday. It had been scheduled to be held in either Oshawa, Ont., or Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.