COVID cancels Canada-Russia Series again

HALIFAX - COVID-19 has cancelled another Canadian Hockey League event.

The CHL announced Friday that the 2021 Canada-Russia Series has been cancelled due to the pandemic. From the CHL:

The Canadian Hockey League announced today that the 2021 CIBC Canada Russia Series will not be played given the ongoing challenges presented by the global pandemic.

The CHL is committed to the health and safety of its players and fans and remains optimistic about the return of the event during the 2022-23 season.

Details regarding the 2022-23 event will be announced at a later date.

The six-game, cross-country event has not been held since the 2019-20 season. The series is typically used as an evaluation tool for Team Canada's World Junior Hockey Championship roster.

The last CHL hosted event to be held was the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Hamilton. No details on a potential 2022 Top Prospects Game have been released.

The cancellation is further proof that the 2021-22 CHL season will not be as "normal" as was hoped over the summer. Although things are looking much more promising than a year ago, the fourth wave is no doubt creating concerns that there may be some stops-and-starts in some markets this year.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's regular season is scheduled to begin Thursday in Victoriaville. Things get going in the Maritimes on Friday.

The New Brunswick government introduced new measures this past Friday to help slow down the fourth wave. Those restrictions did not include any capacity limitations for arenas. Fans must be masked and show proof of vaccination.

A week away from the start of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s season, things are shaping up to be as turbulent as the last.

Read: https://t.co/qZs4Kn17Sl pic.twitter.com/XQTuzxqQS9

— Global Halifax (@globalhalifax) September 24, 2021

In Alberta, where hospitals are maxed out, TSN's Rick Westhead reports that the Canadian Medical Association is calling on the provincial government to reduce arena capacities. Hopefully that doesn't happen in New Brunswick - or anywhere else - this season.

It appears as though the Nova Scotia teams and the Charlottetown Islanders will start the regular season at full capacity - with masks and proof of full vaccination. The Quebec clubs will start with reduced capacities with no clear timeline on when they'll be allowed to fully open the doors.

The 17 Ontario-based OHL clubs will begin the regular season at 50% capacity.