Dr. Bonnie Henry offered a ray of hope on Friday in an otherwise bleak sporting winter.
A guardedly optimistic Henry, the provincial health officer, said sport could reopen in B.C. in some fashion by the end of the month. That scenario could include “salvaging” a Western Hockey League spring season for the Victoria Royals.
“I am hopeful. This is one of the things we need to plan for,” Henry said during a news conference.
“We are buying time right now. If things go well during this period between now and the end of the month — nothing [in terms of sports restrictions] will change in this period — but, absolutely, I want to work with the WHL so that we can salvage a spring season for them.”
Dark winter days just turned a little brighter for the five teams in the B.C. Division of the WHL. “That is very encouraging and definitely positive news that Dr. Henry feels there is a possibility of a season happening,” said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price. “It is important for the players.”
Speculation is rampant that WHL B.C. Division play will take place in bubbles, without fans, with the Royals and host Rockets based in Kelowna and the Vancouver Giants, Prince George Cougars and host Blazers based in Kamloops. Each team would play 24 games and there would be no playoffs.
“We have received emails about thoughts that they [WHL] have had about different types of hubs. I haven’t seen that in detail, yet,” said Henry.
Also affected by a return to play would be the five Island Division teams in the B.C. Hockey League. This time next year, veteran Victoria Grizzlies forward Eddie Yan could be playing for host China in his hometown 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. But as a graduating 20-year-old junior, it’s this season in the BCHL that is of more urgent concern.
“The Olympics is something I have dreamed of my entire lifetime and it would be special. But, at the moment, I am focused on the now, and that is in pushing each other in practice, so we will be ready when the season happens,” Yan said after a Grizzlies training session this week. “This year has been tough on everybody.”
Henry also held out hope for a return soon of children’s sports, if the provincial infection data continues going down.
“As long as we continue on this path, we can start planning for the return of activities at the end of this month,” she said.
“Looking ahead, were are continuing working with viaSport, and we can start to put plans in place to get youth sports up and running by the end of this month.”
The term “buying time” was used by Henry on several occasions. Those involved in spring and summer sports, including the 75 Island or Island-based athletes training for the Tokyo Olympics in July, can relate to that message.
So can teams in spring and summer leagues such as Pacific FC of the pro soccer Canadian Premier League, the Victoria Shamrocks and Nanaimo Timbermen of the Western Lacrosse Association, the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls of the West Coast League of baseball and the Westshore Rebels and VI Raiders of the B.C. Football Conference.
“We are looking at a couple of options, from a full to reduced season,” said WLA commissioner Paul Dal Monte.
The pro National Lacrosse League usually plays in winter but pushed its season start back to April, before cancelling it.
“We have the benefit of time in that we play in summer,” said Dal Monte, who added the WLA will release a 2021 schedule this month. “Our players have such passion for the game and are anxious to get on the floor.”
One issue for gate-driven leagues such as the WLA is the unlikelihood of fans being allowed into the venues, especially during the early days, when sport eventually does return in the province.
“Ideally, every team wants fans in the stands,” said Dal Monte. “But we want to keep our players and fans safe.”
