BC Hockey League back in April as province signs off on return-to-play plans

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Early next month, the BC Hockey League will be back in business as the provincial health authority has signed off on return-to-play plans.

Premier John Horgan sounded optimistic this week once the plan for the BCHL to get back to game action was approved Friday.

Exciting news for junior hockey players and fans across B.C. — the @GoBCHL 'return to play' plan has been approved by the provincial government. https://t.co/ke6itHqmB8 #COVID19BC pic.twitter.com/bwBnbQUNER

— CityNews 1130 Vancouver (Inactive) (@news1130) March 13, 2021

“It’s an exciting day for young hockey players. It’s an exciting day for British Columbia because it’s another indication of the beginning of the end that is of hand — but we have a few more miles to go yet before we sleep,” he said.

Horgan suggested this could be a door opener for other minor leagues and programs as they hope to restore some form of normalcy.

“Dr. [Brian] Emerson and Dr. [Bonnie] Henry have reviewed the plans brought forward by the BC Hockey League, they’ve made amendments, they put in place conditions, but we’re set to go, provided everybody follows the guidelines,” he said.

There are many pod or hub cities in the plans that include Coquitlam and Chilliwack, with groups of three or four teams competing in pods at one time — similar to the setup for the provinces WHL franchises.

“The league has reached out to those communities to make sure that they’re going to be following the appropriate protocols that have been put in place by Dr. Henry. And as the spring goes on into summer, we’ll be hearing more announcements like this, of various leagues, whether it be junior football, junior lacrosse, and other sports that young people are desperate to get back involved in can take place safely,” Horgan said.

The Vancouver Giants, for instance, play out their abbreviated season in Kamloops, starting in a couple of weeks.