Port Alberni has been named one of five hubs for the BC Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 upcoming restart. Four teams from the BCHLB次元官网网址檚 Island Division will be playing all their games at the Alberni Valley Multiplex.
On March 12, the BCHL board of governors approved a shortened 2020-21 season after the Provincial Health Office (PHO) accepted the leagueB次元官网网址檚 proposal for a safe return to play under its COVID-19 Safety Plan.
The league will operate in a B次元官网网址減odB次元官网网址� model where three to four teams will play each other in five different locations across the province. The Alberni Valley Bulldogs will play host to the Island Division Pod and will welcome the Cowichan Valley Capitals, the Nanaimo Clippers and the Victoria Grizzlies to the Alberni Valley Multiplex for an 18-game schedule.
Although the Powell River Kings are usually members of the Island Division, they will not be able to join the pod due to provincial travel restrictions.
Bulldogs president David Michaud explained that the pod was part of a joint effort between the Bulldogs and the City of Port Alberni.
B次元官网网址淚 worked with [parks, recreation and heritage manager] Willa Thorpe to make sure we were in a position to have ice available,B次元官网网址� said Michaud. B次元官网网址淭he city really stepped up.B次元官网网址�
Although there are still some details to be worked out when it comes to the pods, the plan is for teams to stay in their home towns when they are not playing games.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檒l stay at home in their billet houses, travel from rink to rink and then return,B次元官网网址� said Michaud. B次元官网网址淭hat way there will be no overnight hotel stays and no time spent in the other communities. ItB次元官网网址檚 a lot of travel back and forth.B次元官网网址�
At this time, the Alberni Valley Multiplex will not be allowing fans or spectators into the building due to PHO orders.
A Return to Play committee was formed back in the spring of 2020 after the BCHL playoffs were cancelled in the second round. Michaud has been sitting on that committee since the beginning, working to put together a plan that would have players back on the ice for the fall.
The BCHL was able to host an extended training camp in the fall, but provincial health orders delayed the start of the regular season by nearly four months. Due to the delay, BCHL teams lost many of their veteran players to other Canadian junior A hockey leagues at the BCHLB次元官网网址檚 February trade deadline.
The condensed 2020-21 season will begin the first week of April. According to the BCHL, a full schedule will be released in the coming weeks along with details on the other pod locations.
B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, our league is all about getting players scholarships and moving them on to the next level to allow them to pursue their athletic and educational goals,B次元官网网址� said BCHL executive director Steven Cocker in a press release. B次元官网网址淲ith no games since November, it has been difficult for these players to get noticed by college programs and, as a result, weB次元官网网址檝e seen a significant effect on the number of college commitments in the league this year. With a shortened season now in place, we are thrilled to get our players back in the spotlight and give them the attention they deserve.B次元官网网址�
The BCHL has hired a Chief Medical Officer who will oversee all COVID-19 safety protocols for the five-week season, including testing and a quarantine period for players and team staff.
Michaud explained that although most of the Bulldogs players have been practicing together since December, the team has started a 14-day quarantine to prepare for the upcoming season starting in early April.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure theyB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to hearing the music cranked in the Multiplex and seeing someone wearing an opposition jersey lining up across the ice,B次元官网网址� said Michaud. B次元官网网址淚 think that will be a special moment.B次元官网网址�
elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
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