CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — There will be no major junior hockey in September this season.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is now looking at an Oct. 1 start date due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic. The first game of the 2019-20 season took place Sept. 19.
Commissioner Gilles Courteau said the decision to push back the schedule was due to a variety of factors, including players’ education.
“It’s a key factor for us with players going to CEGEP, high school and university,” he said.
The league has traditionally started training camp in mid-August to ensure Quebec students are back home to register for school. The Ontario and Western hockey leagues start training camps later.
Courteau said there is a possibility of students starting their school year in 2020 by correspondence before in-person classes resume.
“That’s going to be helpful for the players if they have to move from one province to another or from one school to another,” he said.
The move would also provide the league a chance for an extended training camp, if needed, as some players might not have the opportunity to get on the ice as much this summer.
The league probably has until Nov. 1 to begin games and play a 68-game season without too much impact on when the Memorial Cup would be played.
While the league has an undisclosed number of models for later start dates, Courteau said he is confident on Oct. 1 start date.
“Our focus, energy, game plan is to do everything we can to be back in business on Oct. 1,” he said.
Professional leagues in North America are looking at returning to play without fans in the stands but broadcasting the games. That is not an option for the QMJHL.
“Financially, it won’t be a situation where we’re expecting to start our season with no spectators,” Courteau said.
The league could be told by public health officials in each province it can start on Oct. 1 but with a reduction in seating capacity. If that happens, the circuit would seek financial assistance.
“We’ll be able to go to the government with our financial request to get compensation between what we will be allowed to put in the buildings and what normally we generate in each and every building across the Q,” Couteau said.
There are still many unknowns, including what happens with a delayed NHL start for junior players looking to turn pro in 2020-21.
The Canadian Hockey League import draft is traditionally held a few days after the NHL draft weekend, but the NHL is not holding its draft in June this year with rumours having the league looking at a September date.
“It’s going to be impossible to wait that long,” Courteau said regarding the import draft. “In fairness to our teams, we start our season earlier than that.”
There is also a lot of paperwork, like visas, needed to be completed in a normal season to get players to Canada.
