QMJHL season put on pause

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League won't be returning from its holiday break until at least Jan. 7.

Following an owners meeting Tuesday morning, the league announced that it has paused activities until early January due to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The league was originally scheduled to return from its holiday break on Dec. 28.

From the league:

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced a pause to its activities until January 7, 2022 in light of the recent increases of COVID-19 cases in Eastern Canada.

The health and safety of all players and staff members remains our top priority. Therefore, it is appropriate under the current circumstances to remain cautious and to extend the Holiday break.

Players will report back to their clubs on January 3, 2022. The QMJHL is currently working on updated protocols which will include preventive testing prior to the arrival of players and staff within the team environment.

The League’s regular season schedule will resume on Friday, January 7. Postponed games will be rescheduled at a later date.

The decision means the next game for the Saint John Sea Dogs is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 7 at TD Station when they host the Moncton Wildcats. Five of the team's games have been postponed.

Dec. 28 vs Cape Breton

Dec. 30 at Bathurst

Dec. 31 vs Bathurst

Jan. 2 at Moncton

Jan. 4 at Halifax

The New Brunswick government announced Tuesday that it will move the entire province into level two of its always changing winter plan on Dec. 27. The updated level two section includes a line stating "professional leagues practices only for a single team at a time, no games allowed."

It would seem the Halifax Mooseheads and Cape Breton Eagles, meanwhile, have been paused until at least Jan. 12 following an announcement by the Nova Scotia government on Tuesday.

pic.twitter.com/1y2JGR87Xl

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) December 21, 2021

Prince Edward Island will require those who arrive on the island to self-isolate for at least four days beginning Wednesday.

So this is a mess. Things are changing so fast that it's impossible to even guess what we'll be in for come January. Last season the Sea Dogs went on pause in late November and didn't return until March. Hopefully, given the tools we now have to fight the virus, there will not be a repeat of that length of break.

It's unclear at this time if the league would attempt to play games in empty buildings again or bring back protected environments. Playing games of any kind may prove to be a challenge with this variant since it seems much more transmissible amongst young people. The league may simply have to ride this wave out - but we'll see what happens.

Sportsnet's Jeff Marek tweets that the OHL and WHL are currently planning on returning from their holiday breaks as planned.