Pandemic wipes out CSHL season

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This article was published 21/01/2021 (1569 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Although most hockey leagues in the area are still clinging to some hope that they can salvage part of their seasons in the next two or three months, not so for the Carillon Senior Hockey League who announced last week they were pulling the plug on the current campaign.

The 2020-21 CSHL season was about to get underway in early November when play was suspended to due to health restrictions, without a single game being played.

A statement posted on the CSHL website read, “Due to the fact that the Provincial Health Orders have been extended until at least Jan. 22, and with the province still in critical level red, the Carillon Senior Hockey League season has been cancelled. The league would like to thank all players, teams, facilities and communities for all their efforts in attempting to make this season happen.”

The Southeastern Manitoba Hockey League (SEMHL) also announced last week that they were cancelling their season as well.

Joining the league this season were to be the Ile des Chenes North Stars, becoming the fifth team, along with the Red River Wild, Steinbach Huskies, Grunthal Red Wings and the four-time defending champion Ste. Anne Aces.

CSHL president Stacey Neufeld said had some restrictions been lifted on Jan. 8 as they had hoped, they probably would have proceeded with a truncated season. “But when the restrictions were extended to Jan. 22, we had to make the hard decision to cancel the season.”

“It’s disappointing, the guys were excited to play, especially with Ile des Chenes joining the league this year, everybody was ready to go.”

Neufeld says there were several factors that drove their decision to cancel the season. He says the uncertainty as to when they would be able return, and then maybe only play a five-team round robin and then straight into the playoffs, was not something the teams wanted to do.

In addition, with limited or no fans allowed in the buildings, costs will have driven up to continue. Also, how long arenas would stay open in the spring was another issue to consider.

As far as next year is concerned, Neufeld says they will be having their AGM sometime in April to begin plans for next season.