WHL UPDATES COVID PROTOCOLS, POSTPONED GAMES

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the following update on WHL COVID-19 Protocols, including current pausing of team activities for 15 WHL Clubs, resumption of team activities for one WHL Club, and the postponement of eight WHL Regular Season games.  

At this time, 15 Clubs have recently paused team activities as a result of multiple players and staff being added to the WHL COVID-19 Protocol List due to exhibiting symptoms or having tested positive for COVID-19.   

The Lethbridge Hurricanes and Swift Current Broncos have been cleared to resume all team activities. It is anticipated that numerous other WHL Clubs currently on pause will be cleared to resume team activities in the coming days.  

“The WHL and our member Clubs remain fully committed to playing through the 68-game WHL Regular Season schedule and Playoffs,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “As we work through the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our priority continues to be to deliver a world-class development experience for WHL players, staff, and officials, and to do so in a safe and healthy manner. On behalf of the entire WHL, I wish to thank WHL fans and WHL corporate partners everywhere for their patience as we work to reschedule games in the coming weeks.”  

The WHL is working in consultation with the WHL Chief Medical Officer regarding the matter concerning all Clubs currently paused. At this time, the following Clubs have paused all team activities, including on-ice practices and off-ice training, based on WHL COVID-19 Protocols:  

• Calgary Hitmen                                                                 • Red Deer Rebels  

• Edmonton Oil Kings                                                        • Regina Pats  

• Everett Silvertips                                                             • Saskatoon Blades  

• Kamloops Blazers                                                            • Spokane Chiefs  

• Medicine Hat Tigers                                                       • Tri-City Americans  

• Moose Jaw Warriors                                                      • Victoria Royals  

• Prince Albert Raiders                                                     • Winnipeg ICE  

• Prince George Cougars  

As a result of the aforementioned WHL Clubs pausing team activities, the following eight (8) WHL Regular Season games have been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date:  

Saturday, January 8  

• Spokane at Seattle  

Tuesday, January 11  

• Calgary at Regina  

• Prince Albert at Edmonton  

• Spokane at Victoria  

• Kelowna at Prince George  

Wednesday, January 12  

• Calgary at Moose Jaw  

• Spokane at Victoria  

• Kelowna at Prince George  

WHL Clubs are responsible for monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19 among players and hockey operations staff on a daily basis. Upon a player or hockey operations staff member exhibiting symptoms, the individual completes a rapid antigen test and isolates. If the rapid antigen test result is positive, the individual is sent for a PCR test to confirm the positive result and determine next steps. If there are multiple rapid antigen positive test results for COVID-19, all team activities are pausedimmediately. The entire team completes one round of PCR testing and isolates until the results are received and the WHL Chief Medical Officer is made aware of the situation. The WHL, in consultation with its Chief Medical Officer, treats each situation as unique. As such, the WHL Chief Medical Officer reviews all positive test results and scenarios on a case-by-case basis, factoring in a number of variables, including   travel, recent schedule, and potential exposures that may have occurred. The health and safety of all WHL participants is the top priority for the WHL. In order to reduce the risk of exposure to and transmission of COVID-19, the WHL requires all WHL roster players, hockey operations staff, and other team and League office personnel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a Health Canada approved vaccine.  

 (WHL Communications)