The Chilliwack Jets will not be returning to the ice until after Dec. 7 at the earliest.
The Pacific Junior Hockey League club must abide by the new restrictions on sports put in place by the Provincial Health Office, which were announced on Nov. 19.
“We will continue with viaSport Phase 3 activities with the exceptions there are to be no spectators at indoor or outdoor sports, and there will be no travel for any of these sports outside of your local community,” Dr. Bonnie Henry said at the Nov. 19 COVID press briefing. “That is the restriction that we need to have in place now across the province to ensure that we can have these important sport activities continue, but in a safe way during this pandemic.”
The no travel aspect essentially puts a pause on the PJHL season, as teams had been competing in cohorts. The Jets were originally placed in a cohort group with the Mission City Outlaws and the Abbotsford Pilots. The Jets and the Outlaws had played six games against each other already before the Pilots were added to the cohort for two games on Nov. 6 and 7.
RELATED: Abbotsford Pilots opening regular season on Friday
A two-week health order restriction in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions stopped the season on the evening of Nov. 7, and the new restrictions on Nov. 19 extend that break.
The PJHL isn’t the only junior league to now face delays, as the BCHL has also pushed back the start of its season. They had originally slated to open the league on Dec. 2, but that has been moved to Dec. 8 and league officials stated they would be open to delaying until after the holidays if it’s deemed to be necessary.
RELATED: BCHL pushes back season start due to provincial health orders
More sports details are expected to be released by the PHO in December
