Back in 2018, a few months into his tenure as the , Chris Hebb said the learning curve had been a steep one, and he compared absorbing the new information to trying to drink from a fire hose.

In the years since, it hasnB次元官网网址檛 become a whole lot easier.

Hebb, a longtime sports executive with both Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment B次元官网网址� the Vancouver CanucksB次元官网网址� former parent company B次元官网网址� and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the NHLB次元官网网址檚 Maple Leafs and NBAB次元官网网址檚 Toronto Raptors, has had just one BCHL season that would be considered normal.

Following his rookie season in the junior B次元官网网址楢B次元官网网址� hockey leagueB次元官网网址檚 top job, he presided over a season in which the playoffs were cancelled after the first round due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and after that, a season that was delayed for months and eventually turned into a , in which teams were grouped together in various parts of the province and only played each other, with no post-season tournament.

The B次元官网网址榩odB次元官网网址� season did not include the leagueB次元官网网址檚 sole U.S.-based club, the Wenatchee Wild, due to border closure issues, just to throw another wrench into the plans.

And then there is the current season, in which the schedule has been in a state of constant upheaval due flooding and highway closures throughout the province, which restricted travel to the point where teams are not travelling outside of their conferences to play.

The Omicron COVID-19 variant is still very much an issue, too, and led to the cancellation of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 much anticipated 60th anniversary all-star festivities in Penticton, which were scheduled for this month.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been one thing after another,B次元官网网址� said Hebb.

B次元官网网址淥bviously, coming in and learning the league and getting that first season under our belt was good, but it just feels like weB次元官网网址檝e been battling barriers ever since.

B次元官网网址淚 had a staff Zoom callB次元官网网址� and we were saying itB次元官网网址檒l be really nice when we actually get to run a league thatB次元官网网址檚 playing under normal circumstances.B次元官网网址�

Due to increased provincial restrictions around events and a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases, the BCHL has postponed its 60th Anniversary All-Star Weekend to 2023.

RELEASE:

B次元官网网址� BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague)

While Hebb has plenty of experience in the sports business, he told Black Press Media that there was nothing thatB次元官网网址檚 compared to what he and his team B次元官网网址� as well as the leagueB次元官网网址檚 ownership groups, coaches and players B次元官网网址� have had to deal with over the course of the last 22 months.

B次元官网网址淭he only thing that even comes close B次元官网网址� and I donB次元官网网址檛 think it matches B次元官网网址� is that I went through lockouts in professional sports, both on the basketball side and the hockey side,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淵ou had to manage those situations (without) knowing when it was going to end, and itB次元官网网址檚 out of your hands, so thatB次元官网网址檚 similar.B次元官网网址�

With regard to how the league has dealt with myriad issues this season, Hebb was quick to heap praise upon his staff B次元官网网址� especially deputy commissioner Steve Cocker, who Hebb said has been the one in charge of rescheduling games.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got a great right-hand man,B次元官网网址� he said of Cocker.

Hebb also noted that the leagueB次元官网网址檚 owners B次元官网网址� including the four new ownership groups that have come on board since he joined the BCHL, including the expansion Cranbrook Bucks B次元官网网址� have also had to take more of a hands-on role than they otherwise would have.

B次元官网网址淎ll of them have stepped up and worked on various committees,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e relied heavily on committees B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not the league office making these decisions, itB次元官网网址檚 the league office putting these decisions to the ownership. Our owners have been more engaged than they have been in the past, and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 worked in our favor.B次元官网网址�

At the beginning of the pandemic, the BCHL created a return-to-play task force that has continually worked with the Provincial Health Office in an attempt to ensure that players have been able to play and that teams are following the appropriate guidelines.

That approach, Hebb noted, has led to an increased trust between the league and the PHO.

B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 had much interaction with them this season because we understand the situation, and they know that we are going to do the right thing. ThatB次元官网网址檚 how we managed to get the B次元官网网址榩odB次元官网网址� season last year B次元官网网址� they trusted us.B次元官网网址�

Since Day 1, Hebb said the goal of the league has been to play enough games that the players could be properly scouted in order to move on to the next level.

B次元官网网址淭heir window (in junior hockey) is closing and we needed to get them games. By the end of (last) season we felt pretty good about the number of games we were able to get our kids, especially compared to other leagues (across the country).B次元官网网址�

The recent cancellation of the all-star weekend events in Penticton were a blow to the league B次元官网网址� and the staff that worked tirelessly to organize it, Hebb said B次元官网网址� but it was a tough decision that had to be made. The festivities were not cancelled outright B次元官网网址� simply pushed forward to 2023.

B次元官网网址淥micron is a game-changer, and one of the pillars of our league is player safety B次元官网网址� and that doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean just on the ice,B次元官网网址� Hebb said, adding that he feels terrible for the players scheduled to play in this yearB次元官网网址檚 event who wonB次元官网网址檛 be in the league next season.

All players will at least be given their 2022 all-star jerseys, he noted.

Thanks everyone for participating in the All-Star jersey fan vote! Here are the four jerseys that will be worn at the 3-on-3 outdoor tournament.

Stay tuned for more news regarding the All-Star Game this week馃憖

B次元官网网址� BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague)

B次元官网网址淚t was going to be a fantastic celebration, it was going to be great. And it still is going to be great B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e just going to have it in our 61st year, instead of our 60th,B次元官网网址� he said.

Despite all the obstacles Hebb has faced since taking the commissioner job B次元官网网址� he replaced longtime commish John Grisdale, who retired B次元官网网址� it wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough to dissuade him from signing on for more. His initial three-year contract expired last summer, at which point he signed on for another term.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been wild ride,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲e had some real momentum going with our league, and then, COVID came in and kind of delayed it, but weB次元官网网址檙e still going to grow the BCHL.B次元官网网址�

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