Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire ”
For the first time in a long time, there will be no Western Ontario Athletic Association Senior Hockey season.
The records from the WOAA indicate the Senior league has run continuously for more than 70 years dating back to 1948.
However, last Thursday at the league’s Annual General Meeting, a motion was moved, seconded and
then carried which stated there would be NO playing season for 2020-2021 hockey season.
We all know what’s responsible; COVID-19.
And based on the events and testing results of the last week, the situation continues to exist, evolve and unfortunately swing in the opposite direction of what we all hope, hockeywise, sportswise or otherwise.
The upswing in positive test results in Ontario makes it very clear the provincial government will not be easing restrictions to the point where it would make sense for a Senior Hockey season.
It would be a health risk for those involved, and the WOAA to their credit says that player & fan safety is paramount.
Also, the WOAA Seniors have run into a time crunch
Usually, by this point on the calendar organizations have established their rosters and would be ready to kick off their season next weekend.
Waiting til December 1st, based on the current landscape, appeared to be a pipe dream.
And finally, and of great importance, the negative financial impact on the teams, which are essentially very small business operations, would be decimating.
So, the WOAA has waved a white flag for this season.
The question remains will be they be the only inactive hockey operation this year, or are they first in a sequence of dominos that may fall in the days ahead ?
I’m Fred Wallace