A very special season

Forced to cancel all of its activities last spring, including the presentation of the President’s Cup playoffs, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ) is betting to return to the ice when the province is hit by a second wave of COVID-19 contamination.

By excluding the National League, the QMJHL will be the only major circuit in North America to resume an almost normal programming so quickly, tonight, despite the pandemic which knows no sign of abating.

In Ontario and the West, the season will begin on 1^er December and December 4, while the equivalent circuits (USHL and NCAA) in the United States have announced that they want to start again in November.

However, this return will take place in a special atmosphere in front of empty seats since no spectators will be admitted to arenas in Quebec until further notice. A handful of fans will be allowed to attend their favorite club’s games in the six Maritime markets.

Strict measures

Players and staff from all 18 teams have been following a rigorous health protocol from the start of training camps in late August to prevent outbreaks.

This will be the case throughout the regular schedule of 60 games played within its division.

As of now, no players or staff have tested positive, testifying to the effectiveness of the measures, but the formula will be put to the test in the coming weeks.

“As in society, our biggest challenge will be not to let our guard down. It can happen close to us, anytime. It will be important to remain vigilant and take the situation seriously. We consider ourselves lucky that our league can leave and we will be rigorous to follow the instructions, ”warned the coach and general manager of the Remparts, Patrick Roy, on the first day of the recovery.

At all times, except when on the bench or on the ice, players must wear face coverings and respect physical distance between them. This rule applies even on the bus during road games. The days of the chicken on the knees are over since post-match meals will be taken in the amphitheater visited rather than in the coach to respect sanitary measures.

Unlike the big professional sports leagues which have resumed their activities in recent months, the players in the QMJHL will not be subjected to regular screening tests, unless they experience symptoms similar to the virus.

Rather, the temperature is taken as soon as they enter the arena and they must disclose their daily state of health in a mobile application. Since athletes live in boarding families who are constantly at risk of contracting the disease due to their jobs and their children, vigilance will be critical to ensure the season runs smoothly.

“Players must report their symptoms in the app and report whether they have been in contact at the first, second or third level with someone who has had COVID-19. We stretch to the maximum to have as much information as possible, ”said QMJHL communications director Maxime Blouin.

Flexible schedule

By starting the season as early as in October when its neighboring leagues are on hiatus and the Memorial Cup tournament will take place from June 17 to 27, the Courteau circuit believes that it will be able to resume the postponed games in the event of a outbreaks.

“We have a good window when we have almost a month with Ontario and the West [pour la fin de la saison]. It gives us latitude. We will not take risks for the safety and health of the players, ”said Maxime Blouin.

More cautious teams than usual?

The season of the QMJHL will be anything but a long quiet river through a health crisis that evolves daily. As in everyday life, uncertainty will accompany teams until the conclusion of seasonal activities.

However, could the abrupt end of the dream of certain teams last year to win top honors due to the pandemic slow down the enthusiasm of leaders in the next trading period? They will not want to end up with their beaks in the water.

If no one wants this outcome, the risk of a similar scenario happening again in the spring of 2021 is very real. Unless a miracle vaccine makes its appearance during the winter and the pandemic does not run out of steam on its own!

“You don’t have the choice to have fears right now with everything that’s going on. And seeing teams like Moncton and Chicoutimi last year, the guys did a good job of getting their team where they wanted it to be. It is certainly scary, but we have a job to do and we will see how things will go in the coming weeks, ”notes the general manager of the Shawinigan Cataractes, Martin Mondou.

For now, the format of the series remains unknown due to travel restrictions with the Atlantic provinces. The picture should be clearer in December.

“It’s a special situation and you have to adapt […] Val-d’Or was not afraid to buy, maybe there are special clauses [dans leurs transactions]. Having said that, maybe it’s an open season like it happened when I was in Bathurst. [en 2017-2018]. There is a way to do business, but you have to be creative. There is absolutely nothing under control in the COVID situation, ”warned the pilot and general manager of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Mario Pouliot.

Financial considerations

Their counterpart from the Sherbrooke Phoenix, Stéphane Julien, who led the club to conquer the shortened regular season championship last year, shed another light on the situation.

“At the monetary level, if we arrive at the Holidays and we know that we will have zero spectators until the end of the year, is it worth it to give a shot when we will not do money and that we would have three difficult years afterwards? He thought aloud.

What happens if a player is declared positive?

A case of COVID-19 inside a team will not automatically result in the affected team being suspended from activities. As soon as a case is confirmed, the QMJHL will deploy a contingency plan to determine if other players have been exposed to this person, who will have to isolate himself for 14 days under the instructions of Public Health.

“A case is not an outbreak and that will depend on how much the player has been exposed to other teammates. There will be a mini-study inside the case to limit the spread as much as possible. Each situation will be different, but there may be suspended games, ”explains the QMJHL spokesperson.

What if a player has symptoms? “He is immediately withdrawn from the team and must go for testing. If he tests negative, he can be reinstated in the team. “

A COVIDIAN SEASON IN THE QMJHL

Measures to avoid outbreaks

• Face cover for players, coaches and staff at all times
• Coaches must wear face shield and goggles behind the bench
• Daily temperature measurement for anyone in close contact with the players, including boarding families and officials
• Studies are done remotely
• Restricted contacts for players outside the arena
• Disinfectant and masks mandatory for carpooling officials
• Only one official at a time allowed to eat in the car