QMJHL, OHL both dealt blows

SAINT JOHN - The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League have both been dealt some harsh blows less than 24 hours apart.

On Thursday night, the QMJHL issued a statement confirming that teams within Quebec's red zones would not be permitted to resume games. Four Quebec-based teams - Rimouski, Baie-Comeau, Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or - are scheduled to return to action on Friday night for the first time since Thanksgiving weekend.

"Following a constructive meeting with Public Health Officials held earlier today, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announces the postponement of games for teams located in red zones until further notice," stated the league's press release. "All games planned for this weekend will be rescheduled. The rest of the regular season schedule will be re-evaluated next week.

"However, Quebec Public Health Officials have shown an openness to a potential bubble project for teams located in red zones. The league will be exploring different scenarios with Public Health Officials in the upcoming days and work towards possible solutions so that these teams can resume play as soon as possible."

Obviously this is bad news for the QMJHL and, obviously, a bubble has plenty of logistical and financial hurdles. There's not an easy solution here.

On Friday, just days after the OHL announced it had pushed its start date to February, the Canadian Press first reported that Ontario will indeed not allow the OHL to return to play if bodychecking is permitted. This information came out a while ago, but many thought the OHL would find a way around it.

"Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s minister of sport, confirmed the decision on Friday afternoon," reported the Canadian Press, via Sportsnet. 

"She said that removing purposeful physical contact from the game was a necessary step to preventing the spread of COVID-19."

MacLeod even called out TSN's Darren Dreger on Twitter for his reporting on the subject.

This is not correct. While we are working with the league on a safe return to play we are not “negotiating” on public safety measures prescribed by the Health Table. https://t.co/79URfJTYpa

— Lisa MacLeod (@MacLeodLisa) October 30, 2020

This is - again, obviously - bad news and puts the OHL season (and the Memorial Cup, which, if we're all being honest, hasn't been looking too promising anyways) very much in question.

2020: what a year!

Map: CTV