Blazers forward Orrin Centazzo celebrates after scoring a goal last season against Kelowna (Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

By Chad Klassen

B.C. DIVISION RETURN

WHL confirms Kamloops, Kelowna to host hub cities; Blazers raring to get started

Mar 2, 2021 | 5:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — There was a little more jump in the step of some Blazers at their junior and pro ice time on Tuesday after the provincial health office and WHL both confirmed a return to play.

“It’s definitely exciting,” said Blazers forward Logan Stankoven. “Hearing that news is definitely a big confidence booster. I think it’s been a long time waiting. It’s almost been a year since we last played a game as a team together. Just to have all the guys back in town and to see them again will be a lot of fun.”

Head Coach Shaun Clouston added, “Definitely a relief because I think the further it went, there was always to me the risk of not being able to get going and missing an entire season. I know the league was committed to playing, but I think hoepfully the excitement will kick in soon. Right now, it’s mostly relief.”

The 24-game season would start on March 26. As was first proposed, there will be one hub in Kamloops, where the Blazers, Prince George Cougars and Vancouver Giants will call home, while the Rockets and Victoria Royals will play in Kelowna.

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With a later start date compared to the other division, there will be a lot of games in a short period of time.

“It’ll be a condensed schedule. It’ll be 24 games in approximately 50 days,” WHL Commissioner Ron Robison told CFJC Today. “One of the advantages of playing in a hub centre is to be able to play a lot of games because there’s very limited travel.”

FULL INTERVIEW: WHL Commissioner Ron Robison on B.C. Division restart

A schedule hasn’t been developed, but Robison says teams will mainly play the opponents within their hub, and when teams travel to the other hub it will only be from one arena to the other and back.

“We’re certainly looking at ways we can reduce that travel, but they will travel from one centre to the other,” he said. “The understanding is they’ll be travelling from one arena to the other arena — with no stops in between. From a standpoint of health and safety for everyone concerned, they’ll be contained from one centre to the other.”

Blazer players will quarantine starting March 6 and report to the Kamloops hub a week later before being tested and quarantining further. The Blazers will be able to stay with billets in town, while the visiting players will stay in a hotel.

“It’ll definitely be nice. If we’re able to stay in our billet homes, definitely gives us an edge and be a lot more comfortable,” said Blazers forward Josh Pillar.

It won’t have the same feel to it with fewer games and no fans. However, the players are just happy to be back to a real season.

“In terms of the 24 games, probably [won’t feel like a real season], but I think right off the get-go, we’ll all be ready to go,” said Stankoven. “I think the intensity will be there and it may take a few games to get some chemistry going, but I think it’s definitely going to feel like the first half of the season, just because we won’t have as many games. But it’ll definitely have that intensity and that jump to the game.”