WHL delays start of regular season again, goes to intradivisional play

The Western Hockey League has once again decided to delay the start of the 2020-21 regular season — and the league will look different if and when its teams do hit the ice.

In a media release Wednesday, the WHL said its board of governors had decided to start play on Jan. 8.

It’s the second delay caused by COVID-19; in August, the league announced it was pushing back the start of its regular season from Oct. 2 to Dec. 4.

But the WHL also announced all regular-season games during the upcoming campaign will be played only within the geographical boundaries of its four divisions.

As a result, the seven Saskatchewan and Manitoba-based teams — the Brandon Wheat Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Swift Current Broncos and Winnipeg Ice — are to only play each other.

The five Alberta-based teams in the Central Division — the Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Red Deer Rebels — are to play each other exclusively.

The clubs in the B.C. Division — comprising the Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, Prince George Cougars, Vancouver Giants and Victoria Royals — are to stay within that division.

The same blueprint is to be followed by the five teams in the U.S. Division: The Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans.

The WHL didn’t provide details on how many games each team would play or what the schedule would look like, saying that information will be announced at a later date.

The league said it was still working to get approval to play from the governments and health authorities in the provinces and states in which its teams are based.

A decision on fans in stands will not come at this time as it will be up to the health authorities in each jurisdiction.

Players are scheduled to report to their teams after the Christmas break to prepare for the regular season.