Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire. ”
The Collingwood Blues of the Ontario Junior Hockey League have altered their initial proposal to host a 6 team ” bubble style ” tournament, similar to the National Hockey League Playoffs.
The original plan was to conduct the tournament in the town come November.
Not being negative, I doubted the concept was feasible primarily based on economic factors.
Amateur Junior teams, even ones that are very good small business models, can’t afford a month long promotion, in fact, I doubt the NHL member teams can afford to operate another bubble event.
Still, out of the initial idea the Blues and Lindsay Muskies are apparently in line to play a sequence of exhibition games next month, and the potential exists that the Trenton Golden Hawks may also join the group.
Understand fully, this isn’t a fly-by-night willy-nilly plot out of left field.
In the case of the Blues, they’ve consulted the OJHL’s lengthy ” Return To Play ‘ document, they’ve received permission from the Town of Collingwood to proceed with ice being installed at the venerable Eddie Bush Memorial Arena, plus they’ve worked in step with the Simcoe-Muskoka Health Unit.
A lot of planning, a lot of meetings, a lot of obstacles all have been examined, and might be examined as we speak.
With good reason, the Ontario Hockey League and the Attack have been silent.
Similarly, the Knights of Meaford and the Greater Metro Junior Hockey League have been quiet.
And while Collingwood’s exhibition initiative isn’t official, it is an example of being proactive in the face of COVID-19
I’m Fred Wallace
