The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League has once again put any potential 2020-21 season on hold due to COVID-19.
With the provincial government announcing a 28-day lockdown for Southern Ontario beginning at 12:01 a.m. Boxing Day, the GOJHL has had to put their previously announced Return to Play plan on hold. A timeline for teams to be able to hit the ice in hopes of a February start to the season will be put on hold until after shutdown measures are lifted.
In November of 2020, the GOJHL had put forth a plan with modified 5-on-5 rules to begin the season in mid-January, and the start dates were subject to regional public health approvals. That plan is now on hold indefinitely. The league has not cancelled the possibility of having some form of regular season.
“Our priority is to exhaust all options in order to have some form of a season. We are doing everything we can to get our players, teams and league through development and gameplay to a safe return to the ice,” says Mark Tuck, GOJHL Commissioner.
The league says in a release on December 23rd that they are "continuing to work with local Public Health Units and facilities to develop an updated Return to Play Plan that includes the measures necessary to protect players, officials, staff and fans."
Commissioner Tuck adds "to our teams, players, volunteers and fans, thank you for your continued support and understanding as the GOJHL, along with the entire province of Ontario, works through this challenging time."
