QMJHL extends season pause

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's regular season pause will extend until at least the week of Jan. 17.

The league made the unsurprising yet disappointing news on Thursday. The league had originally planned to return from its holiday break this coming Monday, Jan. 3 with games resuming on Jan. 7.

From the QMJHL:

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced an extension to its Holiday break until January 14, 2022 as the increase of COVID-19 cases across its communities in Eastern Canada remains a concern.

Players will now report back to their teams no later than January 14, 2022. The QMJHL favours the return of its players within the team environment at this date for three main reasons:

1. Create a safe environment for players and staff; 

2. Support and facilitate their return to school; 

3. Allow them to practice and work out.

Updated QMJHL COVID-19 protocols will include a series of preventive testing before the arrival of players and staff within the team environment. Additional measures will be announced in the upcoming days.

The League’s regular season schedule will resume in the week of January 17, with postponed games to be rescheduled at a later date.

The league's next scheduled game is for Wednesday, Jan. 19. The Saint John Sea Dogs are currently scheduled to return to action on Thursday, Jan. 20 on home ice against the Quebec Remparts. The team has not played since Dec. 18.

Thursday's news means 10 Sea Dogs games have now been postponed, including the much anticipated return of Joshua Roy and the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Jan. 8.

Dec. 28 vs Cape Breton

Dec. 30 at Bathurst

Dec. 31 vs Bathurst

Jan. 2 at Moncton

Jan. 4 at Halifax

Jan. 7 at Moncton

Jan. 8 vs Sherbrooke

Jan. 12 at Cape Breton

Jan. 14 vs Cape Breton

Jan. 15 at Halifax

10 games is a lot to makeup even with most of these matchups being within the division. Further complicating things is the fact that Quebec/Maritime crossover games are now being postponed and they will be challenging to reschedule. It's definitely starting to feel like every team playing a balanced schedule of 68 games is a long shot at this point.

The OHL and WHL returned from their holiday breaks as planned but have had so many games postponed by COVID that they may be forced into a pause as well. Plus, several provinces have either implemented or are discussing further capacity limitations.

The Maritime Junior Hockey League also announced Thursday that it has pushed its return to regular season action to Jan. 20.

All of this comes a day after the World Junior Hockey Championship was cancelled (or maybe just postponed?) by COVID.