Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Marissa Baecker
March 12, 2020 - 2:30 PM
The Canadian Hockey League has announced the 2019-2020 season, and all hockey activity, will be paused until further notice due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision impacts the Western Hockey League, including the Kamloops Blazers and the Kelowna Rockets, along with teams in the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
CHL president Dan MacKenzie made the announcement in a statement post to the league's website and distributed on social media.
The statement said the decision to "pause" hockey activity followed consultation with medical professionals and meetings today, March 12, among the CHL executive council and regional league board of governors.
The CHL and the three regional leagues "take the health and safety of our players, fans, volunteers, staff, and general public very seriously," the statement reads.
The statement did not address the Memorial Cup, the WHL championship tournament, which is scheduled for Kelowna from May 21 to 31. Yesterday the CHL said there were no changes planned.
The Kelowna Rockets issued a statement saying the team fully supports the decision to suspend play this season until further notice. It states the heath and safety of the players, staff, guests and community is of "vital importance."
"Our organization will have more information for season ticket holders and ticket buyers in the near future, we hope to provide an update next week," the statement reads.
The Kamloops Blazer also support the move by the CHL and WHL saying in a statement, "The health and safety of our fans, players, and staff are of the utmost importance. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they come available."
"We’d like to thank our season ticket holders, sponsors, fans and volunteers for their continued support and understanding during this extraordinary time," the statement from the Blazers reads.
— This story was updated at 3:28 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2020, to include a statement from Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers.
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