While the National Hockey League has been preparing for the 2020-21 season, there are leagues around the world that are playing or practicing already. One league, in particular, the Canadian Hockey League, has made some strides during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have also had some issues at times.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

The QMJHL’s season was moving forward as planned, with the first half of the season’s schedule being played; however, teams were dealing with cases throughout the league. About four weeks ago, the league announced that they were putting the seven teams in COVID-19 red zones throughout Quebec in a protected bubble, like what the NHL did for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, for ten days. On December 1st, they took it one step further, announcing that the league would suspend play until January 3rd due to a significant increase in cases in the provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

There are two different scenarios that are coming into play for the second half of the 2020-21 season. The first scenario is that the COVID-19 numbers in Canada have subsided enough so play and travel can return to normal. The second scenario is much more intriguing than the first, but it would be the result of the numbers staying the same or even increasing, and that would be a bubble format where there are teams in different bubbles in QMJHL cities.

No matter the scenario that will be put in use, the January 3rd date would allow for a 14-day quarantine for all members of QMJHL organizations ahead of games starting on January 17th.

Prior to the pause, the Islanders had one prospect participating in QMJHL play, 2020 fifth-round pick William Dufour, who scored six goals and totaled ten points in eight games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Western Hockey League (WHL)

When it comes to the other Canadian Hockey League member leagues and how they adjusted to COVID-19 protocols, the Western Hockey League has seemed to have the clearest picture of how the season will proceed. As recent as October 14th, the WHL announced that they will not begin to play until January 8th. There will also be a massive change to their scheduling for the 2020-21 season, having each team play exclusively divisional games, preventing long travel, and having to cross the border.

The East Division consists of the seven Saskatchewan and Manitoba-based teams. The Central Division will include the five Alberta-based teams. The British Columbia Division will see competition between the five B.C.-based teams and the U.S. Division will consist of the five teams located in the states of Washington and Oregon.

When it comes to Islanders’ prospects that make their playing home in the Western Hockey League, there is only one remaining in the WHL. Forward Reece Newkirk plays for the Portland Winterhawks, but currently, he is playing for the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). In six games for Melville, he scored four goals and added eight assists for 12 points in six games.

Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

The Canadian Hockey League member league that has had the toughest time adjusting to COVID-19 is the Ontario Hockey League. On October 29th, the OHL announced that the 2020-21 season would not start until February 4th, making them the last of the CHL’s three member leagues to start up their season. The one major roadblock between today and the OHL starting is the announcement regarding body-checking.

About a month ago, Ontario’s minister of sports, Lisa MacLeod, announced that the Ontario Hockey League would be permitted to play, but they would not allow players to body check to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This was met with an unsurprisingly negative reaction on social media, and the league is working to start the season when they announced despite this statement from MacLeod.

The Islanders have had players play in the OHL in the past; however, this is one of the rare years that the Islanders do not have a prospect affiliated with the OHL team for the 2020-21 season.

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