THUNDER BAY – The Superior International Junior Hockey League season and playoffs have been indefinitely put on hold.
The Canadian Junior Hockey League on Friday night announced it was suspending Junior A games and league activities across the country as part of its attempt to halt the spread of the global pandemic coronavirus.
The move affects any regular season games and playoffs in the 10 leagues under the CJHL umbrella, plus four regional championships, including the Dudley Hewitt Cup, scheduled to begin late next month in Fort Frances, Ont.
“In lieu of the world-wide events and on-going implications of the COVID-19 and following in-depth deliberations with our executive board and each of the commissioners/presidents, along with consultations with medical experts, as well as Hockey Canada, the decision has been made to put a hold on the season for the time being,” said CJHL president Brent Ladds in a release issued on Friday.
Earlier in the day the SIJHL announced it had cancelled Thursday night's scheduled game at Fort William First Nation Arena between the visiting Thief River Falls Norskies and the host Thunder Bay North Stars.
There is currently no timeline in place for the resumption of games, Ladds said.
“We will continue to stay abreast of the situation as it evolves and we will provide further updates as they become available,” added Ladds.
“We thank everyone for their understanding and cooperation in this delicate matter and join all of our members and partner organizations is wishing everyone to the stay safe while using the utmost care and precaution in the coming days and weeks.”
The decision mirrors similar ones made by the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer and the National Lacrosse League. The Canadian Hockey League, which oversees major junior hockey, also paused game play in the Western, Ontario and Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues.
Hockey Canada announced it was cancelling all of its sanctioned activities, until further notice, beginning on Saturday. This includes all national championships. And the Ontario Minor Hockey Association announced cancellation of minor hockey games province-wide.
Ontario Soccer also cancelled all sanctioned activities across the province. The Thunder Bay tweeted this means all indoor soccer training, games and tryout are on hold.
