covid testing varies from rink to rink - April 30, 2021

Photo Credit: ERA/Chamila Karunarathne

Story by Steve Erickson

With all amateur sports on hold we continue to follow the WHL and the BCHL “Pod’s” that many feel was set up for draft ratings for those whose careers are coming to an end.

Many still question the fact that Junior A are allowed to play, but nothing was set up for either of the three Junior B leagues in the Province who develop players for the above two leagues.

Strangely enough no one seems to be able to give anyone an answer to the above which many continue to ponder?

Covid testing is on-going with some doing a remarkable job checking everyone out who enters the various buildings.

Other venues simply have you fill out a form which apparently is taken at face value which everyone is thankful for, but you still have to question why this is the overall procedure?

I recently received the following information from the WHL regarding their statement on COVID-19 testing results:

Enjoy the read and thanks to the WHL for the info.

The WHL completed the 12th week of its return to play with zero positive test results for COVID-19 among the 786 tests administered across the WHL from April 25 through April 30, 2021. 

In the Central Division, a total of 159 tests were administered for the Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Red Deer Rebels from April 25 through April 30. 

Using private PCR testing provided by DynaLIFE, testing was administered once to all members of the team delegations of players and staff. 

In the U.S. Division, a total of 467 tests were administered for the Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs, and Tri-City Americans from April 25 through April 30. 

Using private antigen testing, members of the team delegations for Everett, Portland, Seattle and Spokane were tested three times. Tri-City was tested twice using private antigen testing and once using PCR testing. 

In the B.C. Division, a total of 141 tests were administered for the Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, Prince George Cougars, Vancouver Giants and Victoria Royals from April 25 through April 30. 

Using private PCR testing provided by DynaLIFE, testing was administered once to all members of the team delegations of players and staff. 

To date, the WHL has administered a total of 9,006 tests for COVID-19 from February 12 through April 30, 2021, with 14 positive test results.

The WHL will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 testing results.

The WHL will not be providing information on the identity of any individuals. 

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. 

The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. 

A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. 

The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice.

 Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

Photo Credit - NHL/Chicago Blackhawks News Release

Story by Steve Erickson

Locally the BCHL are playing in various locations around the province in a manner in which to showcase various players who might otherwise not be noticed.

In conversation with various scouts either at or away from the arena they are mentioning “It’s not been easy for us to watch those who might have a chance to get rated higher, but at least the “Pod” makes it somewhat easier.”

Some of the players have come to showcase their talents, while others spend far too much time playing aggressively and end up in the penalty box; all due to their aggressive foolish play.

One would think they might learn from past mistakes but the trend continues to follow them and thankfully these players are far and few between.

I am hearing that former West Kelowna Warrior Mike Hardman made his official NHL debut Tuesday April 27th against Tampa Bay playing 17 shifts for a total time on ice of 10:16.

Photo Credit - Boston College Eagles

He officially signed a two-year entry level contract worth $912,500 (cap hit) about a month ago and had been practicing with the taxi squad prior to being called up.

Hardman only played one season for the Warriors and finished second in the league with 39 goals, 33 assists in 58 games in the 2018-19 season also finishing third in the BCHL with 72 points.

He was what some describe a power forward as he scored 11 times adding 12 assists on the PP, while also managing 2 goals in four play-off games.

He along with Capitals Justin Schultz and Nashville’s Colton Sissons are the only former Warrior players that are currently playing in the NHL.

Kelowna’s Schwartz has played 524 games with a record of 53 goals and 184 assists while North Vancouver’s Colton Sissons has played 373 games managing 52 goals and 54 assists.

Congratulations to Hardman on making his NHL debut against the 2020 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning and it’s hoped that he’s not the only Warrior to make it to the NHL.

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Photo Credit - Damon James/BCHL

Story by Steve Erickson

Games continue in the BCHL with game action locally at Scotia Barn, formerly Burnaby 8-rinks that has the Kings take on the Eagles in a matinee affair

Both clubs have met five times since April 4th that has the Eagles winning four of the five matches outsourcing their opponents 29-16 while the Kings have won back to back games for the first time this season.

The afternoon game saw Powell River start Jakob Drapeau between the pipes while the Eagles started Max Prazma with both playing a full 60 minutes.

The Eagles are riding a four game winning streak with the last meeting between these two clubs saw the Kings jump out to a 3-0 lead mid-way through the second before the Eagles scoring five unanswered goals, one in the second and four in the third.

Surrey opened the scoring while playing shorthanded with Fitzgerald in the box for Boarding that saw Johnson (7th) get an unassisted goal at 7:23.

The Kings solid forechecking saw them get the even strength marker at 11:23 with McWillis getting his third of the season with Neil getting the only assist.

The Kings were unable to get any pressure on Eagles tender Max Prazma allowing the Eagles to get the go ahead goal at 17:48 on the PP with Katzalay getting his 9th of the season with Bliss and Fitzgerald getting assists,

The fast and aggressive period saw the Eagles outshoot the Kings by a 15-10 margin taking a 2-1 lead as both teams headed to the dressing room after 20 minutes.

The 2nd saw the Kings come out with a more aggressive style getting the even strength goal on the PP at 15:18 as Santia (9th) with Hewlett and Raymond getting the assists.

As aggressive as the second was, the teams took a 2-2 tie to the dressing room after 40 minutes with the Kings outshooting Surrey 11-7 in the second.

Being even on the scoreboard means nothing in sport, but the third was all Surrey getting their first 34 second in on the PP getting the insurance goal at 1:01 from Saretzky (4th) while Fitzgerald getting the insurance marker at 6:06 with Blitz and Katzalay setting him up.

The Eagles outshot the Kings 12-6 in the third and 34-27 through 60 minutes and if the Kings were able to only play 40, possibly they could have

 managed a win, but we’ll never know.

The match-up saw the Eagles manage 7 minor’s while the Kings were more disciplined and took only 4 minor’s.

FortisBC Player of the Game     

Tyden McWillis (1G/0A) Kings

Three Stars:
1st Brett Bliss (3 Assists)
2nd Christian Fitzgerald (2G/1A)
3rd Holden Katzalay (1G/1A)

Photo credit and story by Steve Erickson

Vancouver enters the second of a pair of games against the Leaf’s in a two day span that saw them pull off a miraculous 3-2 O/T victory and through the six meetings to date they have been split, three each.

Toronto enters the game with a PP% of 21.9 while Vancouver’s PP % is 19.6 with the face-off % is 52.3 to 51.7 for the Canucks.

While even in some of the stats the conditioning % has to be in favor of the Leaf’s who have played 45 games sitting in first with 61 points to the Canucks 37 games played sitting with 38 points.

We were hearing prior to the game that the Leaf’s were starting newly acquired David Rittich (4-7-2 with a SV% of .905 and a GAA of 2.82.

Vancouver on the other hand will be going with Sunday’s game star Braden Holtby (5-6-2) who has a SV% of 8.99 and a GAA of 3.44.

It’s fair to say that Vancouver is still “on the mend” following the infectious bout of Covid which hit the entire team extremely hard and we wish them a speedy recovery to players, staff and their families.

Sport should be placed on the back-burner when it comes to the health and safety of any player and this should also be mentioned in the same context as Leaf’s forward  Zack Hyman who was put out of the game on a knee on knee hit..

Canuck Captain Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser lead the team with 16 goals with each playing 38 games followed closely by JT Miller who has 9 goals through 35 games who is looking to catch both.

Tonight’s game is a tribute to the World Autism Acceptance Game which is the first of three special games with the upcoming pair against Ottawa features their first Environment Night on April 22nd and April 24th is their annual Vaisakhi Night. 

It will be their fourth annual game night so as to celebrate the South Asian Community promoting diversity and inclusivity under the NHL’s Hockey is for Everyone.

To the surprise of many Abbotsford’s Jake Virtanen returns to the line-up that saw the Canucks finish the first period with a FO winning % of 53 to Toronto’s 47 with each team having 4 blocked shots.

Toronto had 9 hits and 2 giveaway’s to Vancouver’s 5 hits and no giveaway’s through the first twenty minutes, but the between period discussion revolved around conditioning in the third.

Vancouver came out with a jump in the second that saw the Canucks throw the puck from the corner, then D to D sending one on net that saw Ritter give up a juicy rebound leaving it for Sutter to tap in his 7th of the season with Boeser and Haminoc getting assists. 

In just under five minutes later Vancouver pinned the Leaf’s in their zone that saw Hughes get his third of the season and his first in 21 games putting the Canucks up 2-1 to a shocked Leaf team.

With the second slowly drawing to a close an attempted clearing play was stopped at the line that saw a long shot at the net only to have it tipped in by Tarvares who was just outside the blue paint tying the game at two.

The third saw the Leaf’s come out with more jump that saw Brooks get his second of the season with helpers going to Mariner and Holl with his 13th assist.

Never count Vancouver out and at 6:43 Hoglander hammered home his 9th with Boeser (20) and Hughes (27) getting the Canucks even putting more pressure on the Leaf’s.

I am hearing from the skeptics that Vancouver should fold the cards and end the season but you would never know it given the way they played in the third peppering the rivals from Ontario.

Pearson managed to get his 7th and 8th of the season that saw Toronto cough up the puck in the neutral zone giving Vancouver a 5-3 lead and they weren’t done yet.

With the third winding down TO pulled the “tender” in hopes of gaining ground but try as they might it was too little too late and with an open net it was Sutter (8th) who threw one down ice getting an empty netter at 19:24 sending the leaf’s home with another loss.

Leaf John Tavares mentioned “We did a lot of good things again and we created opportunities, we grabbed the lead, and we have to do a better job of holding that. It happened to us last game, it happened here tonight. We have to find a way to finish here.”

NOTES:

Zach Bogosian left the game in the second period at 9:08 with a reported upper-body injury after he fell awkwardly into the end boards which Leaf’s coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned “It looks like he’s definitely going to miss some time.”

Canuck forward Antoine Roussel left after the first period with a reported lower-body injury with no update from Canuck Head Coach Travis Green. 

Matthew Highmore was +2 having only one shot and one blocked shot in 15:54 playing time after being acquired from Chicago Blackhawks (April 13th) and serving a required seven-day quarantine period.

Three Stars:

1st      Quinn Hughes

2md    Tanner Pearson

3rd      William Nylander

Photo Credit - NHL

Story by Steve Erickson

While everyone eagerly awaits the return of the Vancouver Canucks no one is more eager than the players, coaches and team personnel.

We have patiently waited and glad that no one seriously got affected by this deadly virus and hope we all can return to the “new normal” in the next short while.

I received the following press release from the NHL and the Vancouver Canucks and want to share it with you so please read in full and understand the severity of what the players and staff have been going through.

Your understanding is greatly appreciated.

Enjoy the read.

The National Hockey League announced today that the Vancouver Canucks’ return to game play is being delayed from Friday, April 16. 

The decision to extend the period prior to the team’s resumption of play was made to provide Club staff and Players with additional time for recovery and preparation following its recent COVID outbreak. 

The NHL made the decision with input from the League’s, NHLPA and Club’s medical groups.

Additional changes are being made to the Scotia NHL North Division schedule and it is expected that a revised schedule will be released by tomorrow.

The Canucks’ organization has, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its Players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, provincial and federal agencies.

“Our medical and hockey operations staff have collaborated daily with NHL, NHLPA and local health officials on the health and well-being of the team and our players’ readiness to play. 

I would like to thank our players, our upcoming opponents, and everyone involved at the NHL and NHLPA for their input, guidance and understanding through this process. 

Above all else the health and safety of players, staff and families remains the priority.

Before every player resumes training a full medical evaluation is carried out, consistent with return to play NHL COVID Protocols. As of today, certain players have passed evaluation however many are not yet cleared and extra recovery time is required. Our medical staff are confident the recovery process for those players will be aided by an additional couple of days.”

 Photo Credit & story by Steve Erickson

For the enthusiastic hockey fans who have been patiently awaiting the return for the Vancouver Canucks it’s been like waiting on Gilligan’s Island to be rescued.

We are  hearing that the League just released the return schedule for the Vancouver Canucks who have been given the green light to return to practice April 11th and officially resume play April 16th all depending on the COVID-19 test results.

As one might expect there are 13 new dates for games that are played in the North Division which lists the final game scheduled for May 16th.

Regardless of what some might think about the return; the National Hockey League was focused on the safety of everyone within the Canucks organization.

The Canucks released a statement indicating that they will resume off-ice training as well as what is known as limited individual practice sessions from April 11-13. 

Availability for the media as you can expect will take place over Zoom and begin April 12th while a regular on-ice group practice will resume on April 14th.

The COVID-19 outbreak surrounded the first player to test positive for COVID-19 in which the Canucks officially mentioned that Adam Gaudette was the first on March 30th. 

The Canucks have officially confirmed that a variant was involved in the outbreak, and full genome sequencing was conducted by the B.C. Centre for Disease Control to determine which specific variant.

The NHL postponed Vancouver’s game against the Calgary Flames the following night when D-man Travis Hamonic and a member of the coaching staff were added on the NHL’s COVID protocol list. 

Six Canucks games were postponed when it was revealed that 19 players, three (3) members of the taxi squad and four (4) staff remembers also tested positive for COVID-19. 

The first positive cases were reported following the Canucks six-day break between games which many were hoping for a recovery period for injured players to get healthy again.

Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet reported the outbreak originated in a restaurant.in which according to Health Rules was permitted by BC for indoor dining during the month of March. 

Team physician Dr. Jim Bovard mentioned “It’s not an accident that it occurred when it did with what’s going on in the broader community.” 

He continued “Just like all the other workplaces, everybody is following and trying to follow (safety guidelines) to the best of their ability, all the protocols in place, and we’re no different in that way. But we work and live in the City of Vancouver.

“There’s no culprit here other than the COVID virus itself. Everybody’s been working incredibly hard in the last year trying to avoid getting it, and in spite of their best efforts, this can happen. What I’m seeing going on here in the organization is not much different than what I’ve seen in my own office with people in all walks of life, all workplaces.”

The revised schedule will see Vancouver play their final 19 games over a span of 31 days and listed  below are all of the scheduled changes announced by the NHL.

Following are the changes to the North Division schedule:

Edmonton at Vancouver, scheduled for May 4, is now scheduled for April 16 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Calgary at Vancouver, scheduled for March 31, is now scheduled for April 21 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT

Vancouver at Toronto, scheduled for April 30, is now scheduled for April 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT

Vancouver at Calgary, scheduled for April 10, is now scheduled for May 3 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Vancouver at Edmonton, scheduled for April 3, is now scheduled for May 4 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Vancouver at Edmonton, scheduled for April 12, is now scheduled for May 8 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT

Ottawa at Calgary, scheduled for April 20, is now scheduled for May 9 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT

Vancouver at Winnipeg, scheduled for April 4, is now scheduled for May 10 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT

Vancouver at Winnipeg, scheduled for April 6, is now scheduled for May 11 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT

Toronto at Ottawa, scheduled for May 10, is now scheduled for May 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT

Vancouver at Edmonton, scheduled for April 14, is now scheduled for May 13 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Calgary at Vancouver, scheduled for May 8, is now scheduled for May 15 at TBD

Vancouver at Calgary, scheduled for April 8, is now scheduled for May 16 at TBD

In addition to the games changing dates, two games will now start at new times.

Toronto at Vancouver, scheduled for April 19, is now scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT

Edmonton at Montreal, scheduled May 10, is now scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET