The QMJHL has paused all games due to an increased number of cases of COVID-19.
The QMJHL is pausing all games through Jan. 3 because of the worsening situation with COVID-19 and accompanying restrictions in Quebec and the Maritime provinces.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 30, 2020
QMJHL Season Halted
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has decided to pause its season. This is the first pause of any sport we have seen since Major League Baseball put on a shortened season over the summer. While it is more than safe to say that COVID-19 has impacted every sports league around the world, this is the first time we are seeing a major resurgence. While this pause at least appears to be temporary, with Johnston citing a January 3rd resumption of play, there must be concerns about making that date. After all, hundreds of universities around the United States said students would return to campuses after an extended spring break in March only to finish the semester online. Although things are more under control now than they were then, we still have to question the QMJHL’s ability to make that date stick.
The QMJHL has been one of the NHL’s top development leagues for a long time. Players looking to cement themselves as a top draft choice make a name for themselves in the Q. Sometimes players will return after they have been drafted for further development. The cancellation of several games will negatively impact their development. While this situation may seem like a minor inconvenience to the causal fan, this could have major repercussions down the line. These players are in critical years for their development. They already missed the end of last season. Missing more time now could spell trouble for the players as well as the National Hockey League franchises that drafted them.
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