(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Drop the Puck

SJHL return to play proposal sent to SHA, waiting on approval

Jun 22, 2020 | 3:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) has a plan to make sure a full season is played in 2020/2021.

A proposal has been put together by the league and sent to the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) for what would be a safe season. The league is currently waiting on it to be approved.

“It’s a process that we want to make sure that we get it right,” Commissioner Bill Chow told northeastNOW. “And that the safety of our players and our fans and the staff of our organizations are first and foremost.”

The proposal outlines what precautions and protocols would be put in place to create a safe environment for games to happen. Things like how social distancing would be enforced and practiced as well as sanitation measures like washing jerseys and equipment constantly.

“Obviously we can’t be drinking out of the same water bottle, we can’t be wiping our visors, our sweat into the same towel,” Chow said. “So, obviously there are going to be certain things that are going to have to be increased when it comes to what the teams are going to have to do in order to play the game.”

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The Western Hockey League (WHL) also released their return to play plan last week and had said they would need at least 50 per-cent capacity in their rinks to be able to make playing feasible. For teams like the Melfort Mustangs, Estevan Bruins, Humboldt Broncos, and those with larger rinks that sit 2,000-plus fans, the half capacity won’t be a major concern, but smaller teams might feel the pinch a bit more. However, Chow said he has spoken to some of the teams with smaller rinks and said those teams would be comfortable starting the season at 50 per-cent capacity.

“And hopefully by Christmas time, and into the playoffs, we’re back at whatever occupancy the building can hold,” he said.

Chow added like most sports and events in this day and age, it won’t be like any other SJHL season.

“It obviously will not be what it used to be,” he said. “When it comes to fans and teams and different things that organizations are going to have to do to make sure that everybody is staying safe and staying healthy.”

Chow mentioned in comparison to the WHL, his league has it a little bit easier in terms of not having to travel long distances and across provincial or international borders. Although the fact the Flin Flon Bombers are technically based in Manitoba does throw a bit of a wrench into some plans, but Chow said conversation continues to make sure Flin Flon is a part of the SJHL this season and moving forward.

If a player, or someone around the team and SJHL were to get COVID-19, or start to have symptoms, Chow said it would be the same as when anybody else would get the virus, but step one would be to self-isolate. He said they would have to be very aware of who that individual was in contact with and keep a close eye on them as well.

Normally, at the league Annual General Meeting, a schedule is put together by the representatives for each team as they prepare for a early to mid September start date. Chow told northeastNOW prior to the AGM they would prepare to start Sept. 11, but there is still much to be decided. A schedule ended up not being put together at the meetings as the league waits for a bit more direction.

“Everybody is waiting to find out what’s going to happen,” Chow said. “But I think that’s the biggest thing, is to have some patience and just to allow the process to go through and hopefully we can get the schedule done and announcements made sooner than later, but we’ll just have to take our time and see where things go.”

Chow added once a schedule is put together, and they are unable to start the season on that date, the games postponed would be added to the back of the season. He said finishing the regular season in March or April is a possibility.

Meanwhile, there is still lots to be figured out when it comes to players from across the country to come play in the SJHL. Chow said for American players coming up, they will need the border to open, but as for Canadians from other provinces, he said they will follow the protocols of the SHA if players are required to self-isolate when they arrive.

Arenas across the province still remain closed to the public, but they are part of Phase 4.2 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. There is no official date for that as of yet.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6