Q In A Quandary

Oh what a tangled web one weaves when it comes to the QMJHL. I know I said I'd be using today as a placeholder for the review of the predictions made in The Hockey News 2006-07 Yearbook, and it may still end up being that after all is said and done. However, an important announcement was made today in the QMJHL that needs some recognition because it may hold the keys for a number of other leagues and how they plan on operating as the COVID-19 pandemic flares up once more across Canada and the US.

Late this afternoon, the QMJHL announced that all twelve teams in the two Quebec-based divisions in the league will cease playing games while Quebec tries to get a handle on the outbreaks of COVID-19 cases across the province. It should be noted that the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada announced they had 18 positive tests and the Sherbrooke Phoenix announced they had eight cases after the two teams played each other twice on the first weekend of the season. The officials who worked the series that weekend also tested positive for the virus. Both teams and the officials have isolated since those positive results on the October 2 weekend.

Further complicating things for the QMJHL was having the Quebec government crack down on activities and gatherings in specific red zones in the province. The Quebec Remparts, the Gatineau Olympiques, and the Drummondville Voltigeurs all found themselves banned from hosting games in their respective cities due to red zone restrictions, and the Victoriaville Tigres will see that community upgraded from orange to red on Monday, preventing them from having home games there as well. Needless to say, with half of the QMJHL's Quebec-based teams unable to play home games, the league had no choice but to pause the schedule.

The six Maritime Division teams appeared to be doing well in navigating the pandemic, but that changed Saturday when Moncton was deemed an orange zone by the New Brunswick government on Friday, limiting gatherings in that city once more. That postponed the game between the Saint John Sea Dongs and the Moncton Wildcats scheduled for Saturday in Moncton, and there's no telling when the orange zone might be upgraded. That leaves five of the six teams in the Maritime Division able to host games while the Wildcats can still practice, but not have home games at their arena.

The "Q" in QMJHL evidently stands for "quandary".

"There's nothing wrong with taking a step back to come back in a stronger position," league commissioner Gilles Courteau said Wednesday.

You've got to me kidding me, Courteau. This isn't about "taking a step back" or being "in a stronger position" when you have 26 cases on two teams who haven't played in two weeks. This is about the health and safety of all the players, coaches, fans, team staff, and billet families who host the players so you can have a league. That has to be one of the dumbest statement I've ever seen from a person of power in hockey, and it might be an insight as to why the QMJHL leapt prematurely into this season.

With the WHL announcing a start date of January 8 today, this should be further proof that having teams travel between communities is one of the main factors in the spread and transmission of this virus. We saw it happen in Major League Baseball before they went into the bubbles, we're seeing it happen in the NFL, and we're seeing it happen in the QMJHL. Asking teams to travel and allowing the players to go about their normal, everyday lives is going to result in problems.

The NHL and NBA played in very-controlled bubbles and, amazingly, had no cases of COVID-19 because the variables were reduced to a manageable level. Everything was monitored and players had freedoms within their hotels, but not to wander down the street to grab a coffee or grab a bite at some restaurant. The end result was that the NHL and NBA players remained safe.

If you're looking at U SPORTS and their decision date of November 2 on whether to send the athletes in seven sports from community to community to play games, this has to be a sobering moment. This is the exact thing that can derail a season entirely for a team or a sport in the university system with a short winter season already hanging in the balance.

If we're to believe the science on how the trends are within this pandemic, we likely won't see the rising cases across Canada plateau for at least three weeks assuming everyone is doing their parts by staying home, wearing masks, social distancing, and being mindful of others. As the government cracks down in parts of the country where people aren't doing their parts, this new wave of cases might last into November which would surely put a damper on the university sports scene. And that would suck for all those athletes who have worked so hard to play at that level.

Whatever happens now, all eyes should be focused on the QMJHL because this could certainly get worse before it gets better with respect to the players who have contracted the virus. Shutting the league down is the right move, but it was done far later than it should have and Courteau should be thanking his lucky stars that only two teams of the 18-team QMJHL were affected by COVID-19. If they do start up again - which seems highly unlikely to happen in two weeks - expect the QMJHL to be under a microscope.

There are a handful of other leagues who will be taking notes on this experiment in Quebec when it comes to holding their own seasons in a safe manner if or when they start.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!