Image Credit: Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers

By Chad Klassen

WHL SEASON

WHL hoping hub concept, weekly testing in B.C. Division will be enough to get 24-game season started

Feb 1, 2021 | 5:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — Western Hockey League commissioner Ron Robison can’t predict when the B.C. Division season will commence, but the league has been thorough in its efforts to get the provincial health authority to approve its B.C. plan.

“In B.C., we’ve identified a hub concept that we’re going to be presenting to them and we believe that’s really the highest level of mitigation you can provide. It’s a proven model that has worked in other locations like the NHL and the world juniors,” noted Robison. “We just have to make sure they understand that we’re taking all the measures we possibly can under that scenario to make sure it’s not a risk to the public health system.”

While details still need approval, the WHL is proposing two hubs in the Interior with no fans — one in Kamloops where the Blazers and Prince George Cougars would call home and the other in Kelowna.

“Limit the travel and also get through it as fast as we can and keep the kids as safe as we can would be the priority, but to try and restrict travel would be the biggest and most important thing,” said Kelowna Rockets majority owner, president and GM Bruce Hamilton.

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Robison added, “We’re very conscious of the fact that we can’t have too many teams in any given location because of the demands it may create on the health system there, so we believe the model of having two hubs in the Okanagan will be something we’re going to start with.”

Another key aspect of the proposal to the B.C. government is weekly COVID-19 testing. Players and coaches would be tested before each weekend series.

“I think it’s a difference-maker for us,” said Robison. “We feel the PCR (polymerase chain reaction testing), especially in a hub format, provides us with the highest level of risk-mitigation we can provide.”

The WHL hopes the hub concept and weekly testing will be enough to convince the B.C. government to approve the start of the season. Friday (Feb. 5) is the next pending date when Dr. Bonnie Henry will decide to extend the current restrictions or not.

When asked on Monday about what the WHL needs to do to get approval to play in B.C., Dr. Henry didn’t provide much clarify.

“Yes, we are talking about what is rationale, given our epidemiology and what is happening around the province,” she said. “I have not seen that particularly plan that you referenced, but we have been in discussions with the Western Hockey League about the potential for a season at some point in the future when the epidemiology allows it.”

Essentially, the indication is until COVID-19 case counts drop in the province, the B.C. Division won’t start play. Robison is hopeful for game action at some point — likely after the Feb. 26 Alberta start. He knows the each of the league’s four divisions will have staggered starts, but the league is committed to each playing 24 games.