As we know, the league has been working on a number of contingency plans for the upcoming season, a season that seems very unlikely to start on time in September. Obviously, the later the season start gets pushed, the more complicated things become.
The Sherbrooke La Tribune reported last night that the latest the QMJHL season could start is Jan. 6. It seems like a random date, but in normal times, that would be the day after the World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal game and presumably the final day of trading in the QMJHL (so basically, the real start of the second half).
Sherbrooke Phoenix governor Ronald Thibault said that a January start would result in a 30-game schedule, with the regular season ending in April - a couple weeks later than usual. That would then allow for playoffs before a Memorial Cup that would be pushed into early June - which has been reported by several national media outlets.
It remains unlikely that the league will start up if fans are not allowed in buildings. In La Tribune, Thibault even wondered if limiting building capacity to allow for social distancing would be financially possible for teams.
Ideally, fans get the green light from government authorities to return to arenas at some point between September and January. Fingers crossed.
It remains unlikely that the league will start up if fans are not allowed in buildings. In La Tribune, Thibault even wondered if limiting building capacity to allow for social distancing would be financially possible for teams.
Ideally, fans get the green light from government authorities to return to arenas at some point between September and January. Fingers crossed.
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