Former Melfort Mustangs Tyson Meyers (left) and Battlefords North Star Rylan Nivon face-off in SJHL action during the 2019/2020 season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

SJHL Return to Play

SJHL asking for Sept. 25 start date, still planning on ‘complete season’

Jul 15, 2020 | 12:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) is hoping to start just a couple weeks later than normal for their 2020/2021 season.

League President Bill Chow confirmed to northeastNOW the SJHL has requested Sept. 25 as a start date for their season, just 14 days later than the originally planned Sept. 11 start date, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The league now waits on approval from the provincial government, as well as the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

“We just have to have some patience,” Chow said. “And let them go through their procedures and processes, and figure things out, and let us know.”

Earlier in June, northeastNOW reported the league had sent a return to play proposal to the SHA and the provincial government. It mentioned all procedures that would need to be in place for the 2020/2021 season, and that the league would be able to run with 50 per cent capacity in their rinks, which remains the same.

A schedule for the regular season would normally be released by now, but obviously 2020 has been anything but normal. Chow said they haven’t come up with one just yet as they wait on some more clarity on their season.

Workplace death

Nipawin company fined for workplace death in 2023

50m ago

Moose killed

Young bull moose shot and left to waste near Crystal Springs

1h ago

MFD recruiting

Melfort Fire Department holding recruitment drive

17h ago

“We’re planning on getting together here hopefully in the next couple of weeks and going through the schedule and doing the schedule,” he said. “With using whatever date we get, and hoping of course that it is Sept. 25.”

As it stands, the SJHL Showcase that usually runs in the first few weeks of the season has been “postponed”, and the SJHL/MJHL Showcase, according to Chow, is hopefully still a go. It normally runs in mid-January, a time Chow said is far enough ahead where they hopefully don’t have to push it back.

What if the league isn’t able to start on Sept. 25? Chow said the league is confident that even if things continue to be pushed back, they will still play 58 games, which would be a normal schedule.

“Regardless of that date, pushing things back as far as we have to is what we will do,” Chow told northeastNOW.

“We’ll just move forward from there and have a complete season.” _{– SJHL President Bill Chow}

Meanwhile, as the pandemic wreaks havoc on the sports world, leagues like the CFL have asked the federal government for some funding to help with the effects of not playing and having no revenue. The same can be said for the SJHL which is comprised of not-for-profit, community-owned teams. The SJHL hasn’t played since mid-March, and teams weren’t even able to have spring camps, which do bring in some revenue. Fundraising has also been difficult. Chow said the CJHL and its member leagues have made a pitch to the federal government for some funding, but they have not heard back.

“There’s some money out there provincially available for the teams and hopefully they’ve applied for them as instructed,” he said. “And I think they should apply for them. It’s not much, but every little bit helps.”

Chow said as sports start to come back nationally and on television, having SJHL hockey played in rinks, with fans in attendance is important for the province, the league, and its communities.

“To be able to have rinks open, and community gatherings, and things like that,” he said. “As long as everybody is staying a safe distance, and social distancing, I think that’s important as well. I think it’ll be great for the communities to get back out and connect with each other.”

–

mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6