The Big Six Hockey League has cancelled the rest of the 2020-21 season.
President Rae Wright confirmed the moved in an interview with the Mercury Wednesday morning, after he spoke with representatives of all nine teams. He noted nobody was opposed to cancelling the rest of the season.
Wright said the teams were understanding that this step had to be taken, and Wright said most teams were “relieved” that the season is finished.
The Big Six started the 2020-21 season in early November, as it normally would. Teams played anywhere from two to five games in the few weeks of league play.
But the season was halted on Nov. 27 when the Saskatchewan Health Authority halted games for team sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams also couldn’t practise to keep their skills sharp.
There weren’t any COVID outbreaks associated with Big Six games or teams.
When the provincial government announced Tuesday that it was extending the ban on games until Feb. 19, Wright said that was the final blow for the 2020-21 season, but they knew for some time that the season would likely have to be cancelled.
The league is usually in the second round of the playoffs by Feb. 19.
“With the players not even allowed to practice, most of them haven’t skated for 2 1/2 months. It’s tough to come back and go straight into the playoffs.”
A lot of the players he talked were nervous about coming back and playing. If they were to contract COVID through a game, they would miss two weeks of work.
Also, many communities are looking to turn off their ice plants and having natural ice for the rest of the winter.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
