Photo (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

BCHL Season

‘We’re back:’ public health greenlights abridged BCHL season

Mar 12, 2021 | 10:40 AM

NANAIMO — A shortened BCHL season will begin the first week of April.

The Provincial Health Office accepted the league’s return to play model under it’s COVID-19 safety plan with a full schedule set to be released in the near future.

BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb confirmed there will be a pod system with three to four teams playing out of five locations: Port Alberni, Vernon, Chilliwack, Coquitlam and Penticton.

“This entire process has always been about our players and giving them the best chance to get back to playing games and showcasing their skills and we have accomplished that today,” Hebb said in a release.

Graham Fraser, chairman of the board of governors said in the release the exhibition schedule played in the fall of 2020 was COVID-19 safe.

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“After playing 89 games with zero transmissions, we look forward to working within that system again.”

The last meaningful games for teams were held during the playoffs in March 2020, prior to the league cancelling them as the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.

The Nanaimo Clippers won their first round playoff series in a sweep versus Alberni Valley but never got the chance to compete against Cowichan Valley in the Island Division final.

In October and November, Nanaimo played 18 exhibition games and won the Island Cup championship.

The Clippers played more games than anyone else in the BCHL during the fall schedule.

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dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @danmarshall77