(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

They're goin' home

Sask U18 AAA teams given options as games are postponed indefinitely

Jan 21, 2021 | 3:58 PM

As it’s looking more and more likely that there will not be Saskatchewan U18 AAA Hockey League action this year, both the female and male AAA leagues are allowing its teams to send their billeted players home.

With the Saskatchewan government extending their restrictions and anticipating a return to gameplay is “unlikely to happen before the end of March,” both U18 AAA leagues made a joint statement on Thursday. They didn’t outright cancel their seasons, but officially postponed their seasons indefinitely and allowed teams the options of sending their players home, continuing limited practices, and/or ceasing team events.

“With the outlook of games very bleak in the distant future, it would just give those players the opportunity to move back home and pick up their schooling in their hometown—if they wish,” SFU18AAAHL president Blaine Stork said. “It also helps with teams that have a lot of billeted kids to make that decision. It’s a very low, low percentage that we can continue, so it’s an opportunity to send kids home.”

Both leagues have not played a game since Nov. 22, 2020. The female side, the Prince Albert Northern Bears play in, defeated the Battlefords Sharks 9-5 that day. The Prince Albert Mintos were beaten by the inaugural Warman Wildcats 5-2 on the male side.

Even before the announcement was made official, teams were already starting to send their players home. Stork said several male teams had started that process, while the female teams were planning on having their players move home by the end of the month.

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Teams can still hold their limited team training, with a maximum of eight physically-distanced players per session as per the provincial COVID-19 guidelines. If a player that has been sent home wanted to practice with their team on the weekends, they could travel back for the ice session.

Stork said that if the U18 AAA leagues get the green light to resume playing hockey again this season, teams can have the option to opt-out and not finish the year.

“Obviously in a normal year, teams are bound to finish the season—just as being a member of a league, they can’t just quit at any time. But obviously, this is beyond an abnormal season, that part has been relieved and we respect everybody’s way that they’re going to handle it—if that happens to be an option.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW