HJHL - Let's drop the puck!

It’s game time!

Those words have perhaps never sounded so sweet.

The HJHL was forced to shut down with the rest of the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t played a game since the division finals were interrupted on March 12.

The 2020-21 season gets under way Friday night with a pair of tilts.

The Lomond Lakers will host the Cochrane Generals in Vulcan at 7:30 p.m.

The Sylvan Laker Wranglers, who eliminated Red Deer in a thrilling seven-game battle in the spring, will welcome the Vipers at 8:15 p.m.

And there’s a half-dozen more on Halloween night beginning with the Airdrie Thunder hosting the Mountainview Colts (7 p.m.). The Three Hills Thrashers are back after a one-year break and will welcome the Rocky Rams (7:30 p.m.). The Ponoka Stampeders travel to Stettler to take on the Lightning (7:30 p.m.).

Red Deer hosts Sylvan Lake and the Strathmore Wheatland Kings host the Okotoks Bisons (both at 8 p.m.) The Coaldale Copperheads also open up the Snake Pit to the Medicine Hat Cubs (8:30 p.m.).