The Nanaimo Clippers and Cowichan Valley Capitals had been due to begin their second round playoff series on Friday, March 13 in Nanaimo. (Gary Dorland)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

QUESTS HALTED

Hockey playoffs, national basketball championship at VIU cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns

Mar 12, 2020 | 4:52 PM

NANAIMO — The spread of COVID-19 has forced the postponement or cancellation of several sporting events in the Nanaimo and Parksville regions.

Hockey Canada, in conjunction with BC Hockey, announced late Thursday, March 12 the cancellation of all sanctioned activities under its control, until further notice.

The Canadian Junior Hockey League, which oversees all Junior A hockey in the country confirmed on Friday, March 13 the remainder of the 2019-20 season and playoffs would be cancelled.

The BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers were scheduled to host games one and two of their Island division final series against Cowichan Valley on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14 at Frank Crane Arena.

Other series involving teams across the province were also due to begin in Trail, Penticton and Coquitlam on Friday.

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The VIJHL’s Oceanside Generals were set to start their north division final series against Campbell River on Saturday, March 14. The series had already been postponed on Tuesday, March 10 as a result of a flu bug with the Storm playing group.

Also cancelled is the Midget Tier 1 championships in Nanaimo March 15-20.

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) also cancelled the national women’s basketball championship, due to be hosted at VIU in Nanaimo from March 19 to 21.

Ongoing CCAA tournaments, including the women’s national volleyball championships in Quebec, are being closely monitored. The tournament features a team from VIU.

The VIU Mariners men’s hockey playoff series against Simon Fraser University was also postponed on Thursday. The teams were set to meet in a three-game series beginning Friday, March 13 in the Lower Mainland.

The moves come in the wake of the NBA suspending their season on Wednesday, March 11 following the positive test of a Utah Jazz player for the novel coronavirus.

The National Hockey League followed suit on Thursday by suspending their season until further notice.

As of Thursday afternoon, 53 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in B.C. and over 150 across Canada.

A large majority are in the Vancouver and Fraser Valley regions, with one confirmed case in the Interior and one on Vancouver Island.

The lone Vancouver Island case is a man in his 60’s who was part of a travel group returning from Egypt.

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