Two MJHL teams fined, sanctioned

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This article was published 19/11/2020 (1963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hockey Manitoba and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League have announced fines and sanctions against the MJHL’s Winnipeg Blues and Winnipeg Freeze, who went against a Hockey Manitoba directive not to practice outside the City of Winnipeg boundaries during code red restrictions.

Each team has been fined $5,000, to be payed immediately. Both teams are owned by 50 Below Sports and Entertainment, and they play out of the Rink Training Centre. This money will be directed towards COVID-19 PPE relief for frontline workers across the province.

These fines are almost negligible to the owners. But more importantly, each team will forfeit their first round draft pick in the upcoming 2021 MJHL draft.  And for a team like the first-year Freeze, who currently have the worst record in the 12-team MJHL, it could prove to be very costly.

Each organization will also be required to complete a community initiative this season, as approved by the MJHL and Hockey Manitoba.

Earlier this month the teams booked ice at an arena in Warren north of Winnipeg under a different name, the Laker Academy, for an on-ice session, which contravened the Hockey Manitoba directive. Team officials subsequently apologized for their actions.

Due to the code red restrictions the MJHL has suspended all activity until at least Jan. 1, when teams will be allowed to resume practising.