Season still uncertain for Fort St John Senior Flyers and DC Senior Canucks as COVID-19 continues

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Current circumstances remain very uncertain and unchanged for the Flyers and Dawson Creek Senior Canucks, according to Fort St. John Senior Flyers President Paul van Nostrand.

The North Peace Hockey League held a conference call, Thursday, discussing operations of play for the 2020-21 season and during that call, van Nostrand says both teams believe that cross-border travel will not be permitted this hockey season and both teams are facing limited ice times as the Kin Arena in Dawson Creek and the North Peace Arena in Fort St. john remain closed indefinitely.

The NPHL has advised that any team wishing to take a “hiatus” this season due to COVID-19 would not be treated as a “new” team next season when they re-enter the league, and therefore not be subject to some of the rules around that process.

NPHL teams in Alberta, the Falher Pirates, Grimshaw Huskies and Manning Comets, plan on forming a 50 person cohort among their teams. Each team would be limited to 16 players to be in compliance with the Hockey Alberta Return to Play guidelines.

They are contemplating beginning play in January with a six game regular season schedule, followed by a best-of-three semi-final, and a best-of-seven final.

With current restrictions put in place in Grande Prairie, the Athletics feel it is very unlikely that they will be able to get up-and-running this season.