BCHL explores its options while stickhandling around 'confusing' COVID-19 orders
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The Province Hockey
We started working on our return-to-play back in May and we’ve gone back and forth with the Provincial Health Office on our plan. BCHL commissioner Chris Hebb hopes to have a conversation with health authorities regarding the current orders that are keeping the league’s 19 and 20 year olds from practising with their teams.The Junior A loop is open to players ages 16-20. When provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry last week aimed at reducing the rising number of COVID-19 cases by banning all adult team sports entirely and moving all youth team sports to a practise-only mode, it cut BCHL teams almost exactly in half.According to the league, 48 per cent of its players are either 19 or 20 years of age. They are on the sidelines for the time being, while their younger teammates can take to the ice.“We’re not angry.
We think this is a case of broken telephone.“We need to have a conversation with the Provincial Health Office so they understand the difference with our league.
We talked with viaSport, we talked with the leagues and really, it is about the fact these leagues travel, that we are seeing transmission and we are seeing transmission in the U.S. and other sports teams as well.“We have been seeing transmission events happening and right now, it is just too risky.
We don’t want people travelling to different communities.”Hebb was quick to say Tuesday his league isn’t looking for any sort of travel or game plan currently, but just wants the 19 and 20 year olds to continue practising with their teams.The league and its 17 active teams had hoped to start an abbreviated regular season on Dec. 2.
The league started playing exhibition games in September and despite playing 90 games only two players tested positive for COVID-19.
We think this is a case of broken telephone.“We need to have a conversation with the Provincial Health Office so they understand the difference with our league.
We talked with viaSport, we talked with the leagues and really, it is about the fact these leagues travel, that we are seeing transmission and we are seeing transmission in the U.S. and other sports teams as well.“We have been seeing transmission events happening and right now, it is just too risky.
We don’t want people travelling to different communities.”Hebb was quick to say Tuesday his league isn’t looking for any sort of travel or game plan currently, but just wants the 19 and 20 year olds to continue practising with their teams.The league and its 17 active teams had hoped to start an abbreviated regular season on Dec. 2.
The league started playing exhibition games in September and despite playing 90 games only two players tested positive for COVID-19.