The VIJHL is suspending its 2020/21 regular season due to no feasible path forward under current public health orders. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DONE DEAL

VIJHL officially cancels remainder of 2020/21 season

Mar 9, 2021 | 12:09 PM

NANAIMO — The Vancouver Island Junior B Hockey League is pulling the plug on its season.

A statement from VIJHL president Simon Morgan released Tuesday, March 9 said with no clear path forward, it made keeping teams in a holding pattern unfeasible.

“With the added pressures from facilities comparing the teams need for ice usage against the need for the removal of the ice for other sport or health related events, it seemed that this is the time to make this decision.”

Morgan said it appeared unlikely public health would green light a season for the league in the immediate future.

Teams began a season in the fall and early winter before public health orders suspended many sporting activities across the province.

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Nanaimo and Oceanside each played twelve games, the most recent game action came on Nov. 7 for the Buccaneers and Nov. 6 for the Generals.

A scheduled game between Nanaimo and Oceanside was postponed on Nov. 19, the same day the public health orders changed.

“We look forward to playing games again in the future and it is starting to look very positive that this will occur in late summer in time for this upcoming season,” Morgan said. The VIJHL Board of Governors is already starting to work on the needs of next season.”

The British Columbia Hockey League continues to work with public health to salvage a heavily shortened season at the Junior A level.

The league said on Friday, March 5 the board of governors will vote on the status of the season “early next week, due to ongoing dialogue between the league office and the office of the provincial health officer.”

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