Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “.
The Ontario Hockey League formally released their revised Return To Play plan last week, a sequence of dates and activities that will technically commence in early January and run through June…..IF everything falls into place.
So let’s put some cards on the table…….
Locally, the Harry Lumley-Bayshore Community Centre is a field hospital and while everyone is respectful of the Attack, what happens if the coronavirus numbers in Grey Bruce happen to spike and the field hospital is needed ?
The international border between Canada & the United States remains closed to November 21st. My suspicion is that restriction will be extended to at least January 1st.
And if the border closing is extended further, what do we do with Erie, Flint & Saginaw ?
What about the teams in COVID-19 hot spots ? Mississauga ? Ottawa ?
What about the teams neighbouring hot spot locations ? Oshawa isn’t far from Vaughan. Barrie isn’t far from York.
If the desire is to have reduced travel and hotel stays, how in the world do the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds get around that ? The Greyhounds closest rival is Sudbury which is a 7 hour round trip. And what about the 20 home games for the Greyhounds ?
Hockey Canada’s Return To Play recommends reduced, minimal or no bus transportation……the OHL is a bus league.
Will fans be allowed to attend ? If not, the economic blow to EVERY OHL franchise will be staggering.
Speaking of finances, if the season starts do 400 or so education packages kick in at about 9 grand per player ?
And will there be body contact ?
I’m not being negative.
I’m not being cynical.
I’m simply outlining at least 10 issues I know of that pose as obstacles for the return of the Ontario Hockey League.
I’m Fred Wallace