NB's QMJHL teams closer to return

New Brunswick's three Quebec Major Junior Hockey League teams finally got some good news on Friday.

Provincial health officials announced at a press conference that all zones are poised to be placed into the yellow phase on Sunday, March 7 at 11:59 p.m. This is, of course, is dependent on all things COVID-19 related staying stable over the next week.

A move to yellow would allow the Saint John Sea Dogs, Moncton Wildcats and Acadie-Bathurst Titan to return to game action. The three clubs haven't been able to do anything beyond practice since mid-November.

According to a government news release, a change to yellow would allow, among other things:

• Sports teams will be allowed to play within their league across zones, following their operational plan. Tournaments or larger events within a zone may be permitted, subject to approval of the plan.
• Formal indoor gatherings will be permitted with an operational plan in place as long as the venue is at 50 per cent capacity or less and physical distance can be maintained.

The QMJHL is expected to release further details on the return of its three New Brunswick clubs soon.

While Friday brought good news to half of the Maritimes Division, the other half received some bad news. The Halifax Mooseheads announced - in compliance with new provincial guidelines for the Halifax area - that the team will pause its schedule beginning on Saturday. The restrictions, which do allow the team to remain practicing, will remain in place until March 26.

The Charlottetown Islanders, meanwhile, could be facing similar restrictions soon due to an outbreak on the Island.

With the new COVID-19 restrictions implemented today in Halifax, our away game on Sunday against the @HFXMooseheads has been postponed.

Tomorrow's game in Cape Breton against @CBEHockey will go ahead as planned. We will return home immediately following that game. pic.twitter.com/vZWu1CjxT1

— Charlottetown Islanders (@IslandersHKY) February 26, 2021

If the Mooseheads and Islanders are both forced to take a pause, that is obviously bad news for the Cape Breton Eagles. The three teams have been playing amongst themselves for the past several weeks.

Even if all six Maritimes Division teams receive clearance to play, it's still unclear how travel will work - if at all - with the Atlantic Bubble seemingly still several weeks away from reopening.

"So at this stage, the Atlantic bubble as we once knew it is a definite possibility for late spring or summer," New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said Friday, via CBC.

The 12 Quebec-based clubs are all in action this weekend, taking part in the league's fifth-round of protected environment events.