The Maritime Junior Hockey League has readjusted its schedule to accommodate a deflated Atlantic bubble.
At least six MHL regular-season games were affected by Monday’s announcement that Prince Edward Island, along with Newfoundland and Labrador, was exiting the Atlantic bubble and implementing travel restrictions for at least two weeks as COVID-19 cases rise in parts of the region.
“The main priority of the MHL and its 12 teams continues to be the safety of players, staff, volunteers and our fans,” league president Steve Dykeman said in a news release.
“We will continue to work with provincial health authorities and other stakeholders as the situation evolves. Our teams are important to the social and economic fabric of the communities that they call home and their owners are committed to fans and sponsors as we all deal with the impacts of COVID-19 in Atlantic Canada and beyond.”
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia did not follow suit and travel between the two provinces without requiring self-isolation remains intact for now.
P.E.I.’s travel restrictions came into effect Tuesday morning at 12:01 a.m. and will remain until at least Dec. 7.
Obviously, the team most affected by the announcement is the Summerside Western Capitals, the lone MHL club based in P.E.I.
The Capitals’ two road games this week – Thursday at Pictou County and Saturday at Amherst – have each been moved to February. Summerside will visit the Crushers on Feb. 7 and the Ramblers on Feb. 27.
The Crushers will now host the Valley Wildcats this Thursday (7 p.m.) while the Ramblers will entertain the Yarmouth Mariners on Saturday (7 p.m.).
The MHL announced later on Tuesday that Summerside’s home games versus the Truro Bearcats on Dec. 3 and Yarmouth on Dec. 5 have been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.
