2020–21 BCHL season

The 2020–21 BCHL season is the 59th season of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). The eighteen teams from the Interior and Coastal Conferences were to play 54-game schedules, subject to change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The BCHL announced a tentative December 1 start date for the regular season, and a two-month exhibition period saw 17 of the 18 teams return to play on September 25.[1] However, further restrictions as a result of a second wave has delayed the season start further into 2021.[2][3][4] Additionally, the Wenatchee Wild were forced to withdraw from play for the season due to the ongoing border closure between Canada and the United States.[5]

2020–21 BCHL Season
LeagueBritish Columbia Hockey League
SportHockey
DurationRegular season
TBD
Playoffs
TBD
Number of teams18
Fred Page Cup

In March, the top teams from each conference will play for the Fred Page Cup, the BCHL Championship. From there, the champion represents the league in the Doyle Cup, a best-of-seven series against the Alberta Junior Hockey League champion, to determine who represents the Pacific region in the National Junior A Championship, the Centennial Cup, being held in Penticton.

League changes
  • The Cranbook Bucks joined the league as part of the Interior Conference.
  • The Prince George Spruce Kings moved to the Interior Conference. The remaining nine teams in the Island and Mainland Divisions were merged into the Coastal Conference.
  • The regular season schedule was reduced from 58 games to 54.
  • The top eight teams from each conference would qualify for the playoffs. As a result, crossover spots were eliminated.[6]
  • Players wuold be suspended after their second fight of the season, (previously fifth) and discipline would increase exponentially for every fight after. Players would now receive automatic suspensions for instigator and aggressor penalties.[7]
  • A number of changes were made as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including requiring full-face shields for all players and attempting to reduce the amount of contact between teams during stoppages in play, including assessing ten minute misconducts for failing to separate.
  • Due the United States-Canada border closure during the pandemic, the Wenatchee Wild withdrew from the season.

Standings

Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, SOL = Shootout Losses, Pts = Points

Coastal Conference
GP W L OT/SOL PTS
Alberni Valley Bulldogs00000
Chilliwack Chiefs00000
Coquitlam Express00000
Cowichan Valley Capitals00000
Langley Rivermen00000
Nanaimo Clippers00000
Powell River Kings00000
Surrey Eagles00000
Victoria Grizzlies00000
Interior Conference
GP W L OT/SOL PTS
Cranbrook Bucks00000
Merritt Centennials00000
Penticton Vees00000
Prince George Spruce Kings00000
Salmon Arm Silverbacks00000
Trail Smoke Eaters00000
Vernon Vipers00000
West Kelowna Warriors00000

See also

References
  1. "BCHL Announces A Tentative Dec. 1st Start Date". BCHL. July 17, 2020.
  2. "BCHL Delays Season Start Due to COVID-19 Restrictions". BCHL. 2020-11-23.
  3. "BCHL Delays Season Start to New Year Due to PHO Order". BCHL. 2020-12-07.
  4. "Extension of PHO Restrictions Pushes BCHL Season Start to February". BCHL. 2021-01-08.
  5. "Wild take hiatus for 2020-21 season due to border closure and state restrictions". BCHL. November 24, 2020.
  6. "Board of Governors Approve Realignment for 2020/21". BCHL. February 23, 2020.
  7. "BCHL Approves Several New Initiatives and Protocols after AGM (Part 1)". BCHL. June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.