The Western Hockey League announced late Friday that the U.S. Division had been granted approval to play in Washington state and would begin their schedule on Mar. 19.
That means the Everett Silvertips, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City American will begin preparations to play out of their home arenas, while the Portland, Ore. Winterhawks will move to an arena in the Seattle area -- believed to be Kent, Wash. -- and will practice in Vancouver, Wash.
Former Moose Jaw Generals standout and New York Islanders draft pick Reece Newkirk is a member of the Portland Winterhawks. He already has some competitive hockey under his belt, having played six games with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Melville Millionaires and putting up four goals and 12 points in that span.
Washington, with a population of 7.6 million, has 166,993 current cases of COVID-19, with their cases-per-million of 42,399 among the best in the United States. Saskatchewan, by comparison, has 20,947 cases per million as of Saturday afternoon.
All games will be played within the U.S. Division and in Washington, with the number of games not announced, although the WHL has previously committed to a 24-game season.
“The WHL has developed an extensive set of protocols to not only provide a safe environment for players and staff, but to protect residents of Washington State in the community,” the league said in their press release. “Further details on these protocols will be announced at a later date.”
No spectators will be allowed to enter WHL facilities in Washington.
The announcement marks the second division in the league to receive approval to play after the Central Division was granted clearance last week. The Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Red Deer Rebels, Medicine Hat Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes will begin their 24-game season on Feb. 26, with teams already following quarantine protocols and preparing to begin abbreviated training camps.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the East Division -- including the Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Winnipeg Ice, Brandon Wheat Kings and Swift Current Broncos, who would move from the Central -- were considering a plan to play in a bubble based out of Regina.
Games would be played out of Brandt Centre, practices would take place at the Co-Operators Centre and teams would be housed in the University of Regina dormitories.
Those plans were all unofficial, though, and no word has come from the WHL confirming any aspect of the report other than there had been talks.
The B.C. Division, meanwhile, remains nebulous.
While reports said a pair of bubbles based in Kelowna and Kamloops were being considered, a wrench was thrown into the works when the B.C. government announced their pandemic-related restrictions that were to expire Friday would be extended indefinitely and examined at month’s end.
That means a start for the five B.C. teams -- the Kelowna Rockets, Kamloops Blazers, Prince George Cougars, Victoria Royals and Vancouver Giants -- will likely not happen until late March at the earliest.
Be sure to follow www.whl.ca for the latest updates and information on the 2021 schedule.
