The week it was supposed to begin the Western Lacrosse Association season was cancelled because of COVID-19. The Mann Cup was also scrapped ending a run of 95 years of Canadian Senior A box lacrosse championships. (Gary Johansen)

By Dan Marshall

No Season

COVID-19 cancels season for WLA Nanaimo Timbermen

May 21, 2020 | 7:04 PM

NANAIMO — The Nanaimo Timbermen won’t get the chance for a third straight trip to the WLA playoffs.

The league has cancelled the entire Senior A box lacrosse season, the very week it was supposed to begin.

Timbermen President Chris Bowman felt not playing was the right thing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We kind of knew it was going to be inevitable to not have a season but now that it’s official it makes it more real and it’s tough. It’s 100 per cent the right thing to do for everyone’s health and safety.”

There were a number of factors that went into the decision not to play, including travel between the Island and mainland and the difficulty of securing sponsorships in the uncertain times.

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WLA Commissioner Paul Dal Monte said guidelines put forth by the BC Ministry of Health played a large role as well.

“When you hear the daily briefings and get information from the ministry, gatherings of 50 or more people still with some physical and social distancing are going to extend at least through the summer.”

Dal Monte pointed out that with two teams, staff and game officials there are already more than 50 people involved without factoring in the possibility of fans.

The Timbermen don’t expect the year off to hurt them on the floor as much as some other teams.

Bowman explained they have a young roster and will have additions from the 2020 and 2021 drafts before playing again.

“Us and Langley are the youngest teams in the league and that’s a huge benefit. The majority of our team still has a lot of years in front of them – maybe their best years. You’re going to see an extremely strong team on the floor in 2021.”

The two Timbermen junior age teams don’t have an official word on their seasons yet.

The BCJALL and the BC Tier 1 Junior League are waiting until June 3 to make their decision.

The Senior B Timbermen of the WCSLA are run separately from the other three programs. An announcement was made by the WCSLA on Friday, May 22 confirming their season had also been cancelled.

Without a WLA season or MSL campaign in Ontario there will be no Mann Cup awarded in 2020.

The Mann Cup has been given to Canada’s top Senior A box lacrosse team every year since 1926.

The cup itself has been around since 1910 and was first used as a challenge trophy after it was donated by Donald Mann.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77