HJHL hits 'pause button'

The Government of Alberta announced on Thursday a two-week pause on all team sport activities.

This pause applies primarily to the Calgary and Edmonton regions, as well as their surrounding areas, in addition to Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray.

The new restrictions applies to Junior B and C leagues, all levels of minor hockey, Accredited Schools, and senior hockey in the affected areas and includes all practices, games and other team activities.

Based on this new information and the COVID-19 restrictions that are now in place, the HJHL Executive Board has decided to take the same approach as the Alberta Elite Hockey League and the Alberta Female Hockey League … The HJHL will not play hockey between Nov. 13 and Nov. 27.

This decision, effective immediately, applies to all HJHL teams, not just the immediate six impacted by the Alberta Government regulations. Of the seven games planned on Sunday, Nov. 22 (our next series) … only two games could have proceeded anyway.

We have reached this decision after studying many angles including, but not limited to … cost for referee assignors (and shortage of officials), internal logistics of re-organizing the schedule, limiting non-essential travel, and the fact that we have dealt with COVID-19 cases on three of our own teams.

The safety of all participants in the Heritage Junior Hockey League remains paramount, as it has throughout the Return to Hockey process.

Yours in Hockey,

Gilbert Renaud

President HJHL