SYDNEY, N.S. — When the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has a game scheduled for a Friday night at Centre 200, you can expect nothing less than 2,500 fans cheering for the hometown Cape Breton Eagles.
The Eagles were originally scheduled to host the Charlottetown Islanders in a key Eastern Conference matchup at the Sydney venue last night, but it didn’t happen.
Why?
The QMJHL announced Thursday the suspension of the season until further notice due to COVID-19 concerns following meetings with the Canadian Hockey League and its members earlier in the day.
The suspension came after professional sports leagues — the NBA, NHL and MLB — announced similar suspensions respectively on Wednesday and Thursday.
Fans of the Eagles were disappointed to hear the news of the QMJHL’s suspension, including Cape Breton season ticket holder Matt Craig.
“This is the best team the Eagles have had in a long time,” said Craig.
“It’s disappointing, but we have to look after our boys and the fans who attend the games — there are so many people who can be affected by this and first and foremost is the safety of everyone.”
At the time of the suspension, Cape Breton (40-20-2-1) sat in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and fifth overall in the league standings.
The Eagles, who clinched a playoff spot and home-ice advantage in the first round, are one point behind the Rimouski Océanic, a team the club is chasing for third place in the conference.
Craig believes the decision is heartbreaking for Cape Breton and all major junior teams but considers the decision to be the right move for the QMJHL.
“It’s unfortunate, but we have to look after the health and safety of everybody,” said Craig, an overall major junior hockey fan. “At the end of the day, it’s just a game and this type of thing is where you see it and realize it’s only a game.”
The QMJHL regular season was expected to wrap up on March 21. Prior to the suspension, all 18 teams had either four or five games remaining. The President Cup playoffs were slated to begin at the end of the month.
One game was scheduled to be played in the QMJHL on Thursday between the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The game was ultimately cancelled.
Along with Friday’s game, the Eagles had been scheduled to play Charlottetown today at Centre 200. Following the weekend games, Cape Breton and Halifax were scheduled to meet at Centre 200 on Wednesday, before the team wrapped up the regular season with two games against the Sea Dogs in Saint John, N.B. next weekend.
Brent Desveaux has been an Eagles season ticket holder for 17 years and was also a hockey scout for the Yarmouth Jr. Mariners. He wasn’t surprised by the news.
“The first snowball was the NBA when they cancelled,” said Desveaux. “If you look at it strictly from a hockey perspective, it’s disastrous.
“You have the Eagles who are probably having their best year as a franchise and have a legitimate shot at winning the President Cup, but now we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The Eagles last played on Wednesday night, losing 3-0 to the Moncton Wildcats at the Avenir Centre in Moncton, N.B.
As of late Thursday afternoon, there were no reports of any QMJHL players or staff members having COVID-19.
Desveaux figured the QMJHL would suspend its season Thursday after learning the provincial government in Quebec had banned all indoor events with more than 250 people.
“There was no doubt,” said Desveaux. “The games in the province of Quebec were going to be suspended because more than 250 people attend the games — it was a matter of getting it official and formalized from the QMJHL perspective.”
Desveaux believes the league had no choice but to suspend the season for the time being.
“Once it was declared a pandemic, they had to do it,” said Desveaux. “It became a global issue — we might get lucky and avoid it here in Nova Scotia, but we really don’t know how much of an impact this will have … it’s the unknown right now.”
Prior to suspensions, because of COVID-19, many professional leagues closed dressing room access to media for interviews. QMJHL dressing rooms were already closed as part of the league’s media policy. Interviews take place at a designated location.
The QMJHL issued a statement late Thursday afternoon regarding its decision to suspend the season immediately.
“Following the consultation with medical professionals and meetings (Thursday) among the CHL executive council, and regional league board of governors, the CHL announces that the balance of the 2019-20 season and all hockey activity shall be paused,” reads the statement.
Although members of the Eagles organization were not available for comment Thursday, the team did release a statement on the suspension.
“The safety of our fans, players and community are the utmost importance,” the release said. “With that said, we fully support the league’s decision to pause play until further notice.”
The statement also said fans with tickets to the remaining regular-season home games and playoffs are asked to keep their tickets until further information is provided.
The team also announced the cancellation of its awards banquet, which was scheduled to take place on Monday. Fans are asked to keep their tickets to the event until more direction is provided.
It’s disappointing, but we have to look after our boys and the fans who attend the games — there are so many people who can be affected by this and first and foremost is the safety of everyone.
The QMJHL isn’t the only major junior league to suspend its season because of the pandemic. The Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League have also suspended its season and hockey-related activities as of Thursday.
It’s unknown, as of now, when or if the QMJHL will resume play.
Craig isn’t sure whether or not the season will resume.
“A huge part of me definitely hopes so, but a big part of me realistically says this season is over,” said Craig. “To me, this season is going to be completely washed — not the regular season, the entire playoffs.
“If this does clear up in Quebec and slowly clears up in New Brunswick, it’s going to be rolling through Nova Scotia and Quebec teams are not going to be eager to jump on planes and buses to roll into the Maritimes.”
As for Desveaux, he’s optimistic the season will resume in the near future.
“I think it might be closed down for a couple of weeks, but that being said, if it goes beyond two or three weeks, the question to be asked is will the league alter the format?
“When I heard this news, I had a lump in my throat thinking of all the great things the Eagles organization have done, everything was positive with the team and to have this damper it, it’s unfortunate.”
For now, fans and players will have to wait to see if they return to the stands and ice to finish the 2019-20 campaign.
