This is the 2020-21 Western Hockey League season. This is the league's 54th season dating back to its' founding as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League in 1966 and subsequent renaming to the Western Canada Hockey League in 1968 and to the present name in 1978.
Return to Play[]
On June 17, 2020 following the league's annual general meeting the following was release: The WHL has targeted a start date of Friday, October 2 for the 2020-21 WHL Regular Season, but this date remains contingent on receiving the necessary approvals from government and health authorities in each of the six jurisdictions in WHL territory. The WHL is committed to protecting the integrity of the WHL Regular Season schedule, and fully intends to complete a full 68-game schedule for 2020-21, regardless of when the season begins.
The WHL is also working with government and health authorities in each jurisdiction on the level of spectator capacities that will be permitted in each WHL Club arena facility. The WHL is a spectator-driven league and the welcoming back of WHL fans is vital to a successful return to hockey for all 22 WHL member Clubs.[1]
On October 14, 2020 the league announced that it scheduling a strictly divisional schedule that would begin on January 8, 2021.[2] Also as part of the reorganization of scheduling the Swift Current Broncos are moved from the Central Division to the Eastern Division so that the Eastern Division is teams from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the Central Division is all Alberta teams, and the Western Conference is unchanged with the BC and US Divisions.[3]
The league would finally begin play on February 26th. The schedule is tentatively scheduled to end on May 12th. Each team is scheduled to play 24 games.
On April 26th the province of Manitoba announced restrictions on indoor social gatherings and limiting outdoor gatherings to 10 starting on April 27th, this should not cause any complications with the leagues schedule as the Manitoba based teams are playing in a bubble envioronment in Regina, Saskatchewan along with the other East Division teams.[4]
Cancellation of Playoffs[]
On April 20th the league would announce that the season would conclude with the completion of the 24 game per team schedule on May 12th. The league cited logistical challenges involving travel across so many jurisdictions as the main reason for the cancellation of the playoffs.[5]
Membership changes[]
- None
Teams[]
Eastern Conference[]
| Division | Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Calgary Hitmen | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Scotiabank Saddledome
Stampede Corral (some playoff games) |
19,289
6,450 |
| Edmonton Oil Kings | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Rogers Place | 18,641 | |
| Lethbridge Hurricanes | Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada | ENMAX Centre | 5,479 | |
| Medicine Hat Tigers | Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada | Canalta Centre | 5,500 (expandable to 6,500) | |
| Red Deer Rebels | Red Deer, Alberta, Canada | Westerner Park Centrium | 6,000 | |
| East (Hub Centre) | Brandon Wheat Kings | Brandon, Manitoba, Canada | Keystone Centre | 5,102 |
| Moose Jaw Warriors | Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada | Mosaic Place | 4,714 | |
| Prince Albert Raiders | Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada | Art Hauser Centre | 3,366 | |
| Regina Pats | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | Brandt Centre | 6,200 | |
| Saskatoon Blades | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | SaskTel Centre | 15,195 | |
| Swift Current Broncos | Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada | Credit Union iPlex | 3,239 | |
| Winnipeg Ice | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | Wayne Fleming Arena | 1,400 |
Western Conference[]
| Division | Team | City | Arena | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.C. | Kamloops Blazers | Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada | Sandman Centre | 5,464 |
| Kelowna Rockets | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada | Prospera Place | 6,286 | |
| Prince George Cougars | Prince George, British Columbia, Canada | CN Centre | 5,971 | |
| Vancouver Giants | Langley, British Columbia, Canada | Langley Event Center | 5,276 | |
| Victoria Royals | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada | Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre | 7,006 | |
| U.S. | Everett Silvertips | Everett, Washington, United States | Angel of the Winds Arena | 8,149 |
| Portland Winterhawks | Portland, Oregon, United States | Memorial Coliseum Moda Center |
10,407 18,280 | |
| Seattle Thunderbirds | Kent, Washington, United States | ShoWare Center | 6,500 | |
| Spokane Chiefs | Spokane, Washington, United States | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena | 10,759 | |
| Tri-City Americans | Kennewick, Washington, United States | Toyota Center | 6,000 |
Standings[]
Eastern Conference[]
Eastern Division (Hub Centre)[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Wheat Kings | 24 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 104 | 61 | 38 | .792 |
| Winnipeg Ice | 24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100 | 70 | 37 | .771 |
| Saskatoon Blades | 24 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 80 | 62 | 35 | .729 |
| Prince Albert Raiders | 24 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 70 | 81 | 22 | .458 |
| Regina Pats | 24 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 76 | 96 | 21 | .438 |
| Moose Jaw Warriors | 24 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 71 | 95 | 19 | .396 |
| Swift Current Broncos | 24 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 72 | 108 | 14 | .292 |
Central Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oil Kings | 23 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 104 | 41 | 41 | .891 |
| Medicine Hat Tigers | 23 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 69 | 29 | .630 |
| Calgary Hitmen | 21 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 72 | 79 | 23 | .548 |
| Lethbridge Hurricanes | 24 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 108 | 21 | .438 |
| Red Deer Rebels | 23 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 59 | 106 | 12 | .261 |
Western Conference[]
BC Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamloops Blazers | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 51 | 36 | .818 |
| Kelowna Rockets | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 58 | 53 | 21 | .656 |
| Vancouver Giants | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 59 | 24 | .545 |
| Prince George Cougars | 22 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 57 | 62 | 21 | .477 |
| Victoria Royals | 22 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 96 | 8 | .182 |
US Division[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | SL | GF | GA | Pts | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everett Silvertips | 23 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 45 | 38 | .826 |
| Portland Winterhawks | 24 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 96 | 72 | 29 | .604 |
| Seattle Thunderbirds | 23 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 82 | 21 | .457 |
| Spokane Chiefs | 21 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 79 | 17 | .405 |
| Tri-City Americans | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 78 | 14 | .368 |
Playoffs[]
Cancelled due to logistical issues with the number of jurisdictions involved.[6]
References[]
- ↑ https://whl.ca/article/whl-announces-return-to-play-protocol-for-2020-21
- ↑ https://whl.ca/article/western-hockey-league-announces-opening-date-for-2020-21-regular-season
- ↑ https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-5648466
- ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-covid-19-update-new-public-health-measures-1.6001921
- ↑ https://whl.ca/article/whl-announces-2020-21-season-to-conclude-following-regular-season-schedule
- ↑ https://whl.ca/article/whl-announces-2020-21-season-to-conclude-following-regular-season-schedule