The Western Hockey League released some news late last week that is quite promising to all major-junior fans across the province. Whether you watch the Brandon Wheat Kings or Winnipeg ICE, you could get your first opportunity to do so on October 2.
That's when the league hopes to begin its season and with it, it would feature a full 68 game schedule for each team. The date is tentative. The WHL regular season was put on hold with less than two weeks left in it in mid-March when Canada was hit hard by COVID-19.
It shortly after cancelled the playoffs and the Memorial Cup which was set to be played back in May in Kelowna.
"We're working very diligently on a Return-to-Play Protocol," said WHL Commissioner, Ron Robison. "We've been in touch with all 22 member clubs and we're working toward a document that would be comprehensive enough to send to all health authorities across the league.
A Return-to-Play policy would only be possible if fans were allowed in the stands. Robison has said earlier that without fans, the league wouldn't be able to run as it's a spectator driven league. The WHL is one of three major junior leagues in Canada. The two other being the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The QMJHL has made it known that they hope to begin the season on October 1, one day prior to the WHL's tentative date. The OHL, meanwhile, has not made anything public when it comes to a Return-to-Play Protocol or when they hope to begin the season.
"We feel that the reception has been very positive towards the Protocol," concluded Robison. "We have a plan that we will present in a way that is very respectful of the decisions that have to made by health authorities."
The Portland Winterhawks won the league's top record award. Both Winnipeg and Brandon had clinched playoff spots.
