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WHL announces 2020-21 season will conclude with no playoffs due to pandemic

The WHL has announced that there will be no playoffs or championship series for the 2020-21 season
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The Western Hockey League announced today that the 2020-21 season will conclude after completing its regular-season schedule, with no 2021 WHL Playoffs or Championship Series to follow.

A press release states that the decision to forgo playoffs was made due to “current public health conditions and ongoing challenges with COVID-19, including restrictions on travel.”

“We remained hopeful that public health conditions would improve, but unfortunately that is not the reality we see in front of us today. The ongoing challenges with non-essential interprovincial and international cross-border travel leave us no alternative but to cancel the 2021 WHL Playoffs,” said WHL commissioner Ron Robison.

The WHL is currently playing through 24-game season schedule in designated bub cities, utilizing division cohorts to keep players and staff safe according to public health restrictions.

Although playoffs will not be a possibility this year, the press release also shared that the 2021 WHL Awards will still be taking place, to recognize individuals from each WHL division instead of celebrating conference-wide winners. Categories will name honorees on a league-wide basis.

“We commend our players, team staff, and officials for their commitment to following the protocols that have made this unprecedented season a success,” said Robison. “The WHL looks forward to recognizing individual award winners and all four WHL Division champions at the conclusion of the 2020-21 WHL Regular Season, including the presentation of the RE/MAX Cup for the B.C. Division champions and the Subway Cup for the East Division champions.”

The awards will take place virtually following the conclusion of the regular season in May.

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