Action from the 2019 WHL Eastern Conference Finals between the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Prince Albert Raiders. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Hockey in Alberta

How the WHL season will look in Alberta, and what the WHL East Division can learn

Feb 4, 2021 | 5:31 PM

When it comes to the Western Hockey League restarting its season for its East Division, things are a little confusing right now.

There have been reports of a possible WHL East Division bubble in Regina, and reports of that not being the case. We do not know if the division will operate in a bubble or not, but there are a lot of other questions like: How will the players be housed or billeted? And how will game day operations work?

Meanwhile, Alberta teams already received approval last week on Jan. 28 and have at least started to wrap their heads around what the WHL season will look.

We at paNOW reached out to a pair of play-by-play announcers, Dustin Forbes of the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Andrew Peard of the Edmonton Oil Kings to shed some light on how the season will go.

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“The main feeling is excitement. I understand the trepidation that some people might have, just in terms of it obviously still being in the midst of a pandemic,” Peard said. “But I think we’re looking at the livelihoods of not only the staff members of these hockey teams, but the players as well, as they try to carve out a life for themselves. Whether it be moving on to the next level in being drafted, or for players already drafted getting a contract offer, or guys just looking for a USports deal out of all this, I think it’s important that these kids get back on the ice, and it’s hard to not be excited about [it].”

Forbes had a similar perspective and said he supports all the private testing and safety protocols the league put in place for the five Alberta teams.

“I’m as big of sports fan as there is. So having the opportunity to get back to the grind a little bit, in varied circumstances than what we’re used to, I’m excited. As far as concern goes, I don’t really have any concerns. I think the league’s done a really good job at putting people in place to be able to come up with the proper protocols and everybody’s safe from a player and staff perspective… at the point where I’m ready to go. I’m sure that’s the consensus if you asked anybody in the Western League.”

How will players be housed or billeted?

Each team will approach this individually. Even though there are just five teams in Alberta, there will be a lot of different solutions, ranging from dormitories to hotels and returning to billet families.

With the ENMAX Centre being in such close proximity to Lethbridge College, the Hurricanes will put the players up in the student housing facilities that are right near the rink.

“I think it’s going to vary from team to team. In Lethbridge, our players are going to be living in a dormitory setting — student housing that’s right adjacent to the arena, so players won’t be with billets this year,” Forbes said.

For the Oil Kings, Peard anticipated the players would return to their billets.

“Here in Edmonton, I think there’s a real appetite to return them to their billet homes. Obviously with that, there will be a lot of guidance to billets of what can and can’t be done,” Peard said. “In terms of billets who have kids, older billet parents, they’ll know what they can and can’t do. And that’s something that they’ll agree to before having players come into their homes.”

The Calgary Hitmen announced on Wednesday they will be staying in hotels. The Hitmen are being kicked out of their building by their NHL counterparts, with the Calgary Flames and their AHL affiliate the Stockton Heat taking over the Scotiabank Saddledome. As a result, the Hitmen found a new home for this season at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on the Tsuut’ina First Nation. The Hitmen will be housed at the Grey Eagle Resort there near the rink.

How will gameday operations work?

Forbes said he will broadcast all home and away games from the rinks. There could be a restriction with how many media members and scouts can watch the games in the rink. Interviews would be done over Zoom, much like how the NHL and other professional sports leagues have done it. Forbes normally travels with the team, but will not be on the bus this year to avoid unnecessary contact.

“From a travel perspective, in terms of the idea of limiting as much contact as possible with the players and coaches, it sounds like I won’t be travelling on the team bus, like typical. I’ll either be commuting to games on my own or commuting with Pete [Anholt, Hurricanes general manager and Prince Albert Raider alumnus]. That’s how it looks right now; it’s an ever-fluid situation.”

Peard said on his end, he’s still waiting for everything to be finalized. But the one thing he definitely knows is that he won’t be calling Oil Kings home games from their typical home at Rogers Place this season. Like the Hitmen, the Oil Kings were booted from their home rink by their NHL counterparts, the Edmonton Oilers.

“I’m still waiting to hear on how things are going to look at the rink. Obviously, first and foremost, they’re not playing at Rogers Place here in Edmonton. They’re going to play in the Downtown Community Arena, which is attached to Rogers Place so the Oil Kings will still have full use of their facilities.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW