The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) announced Friday that its next season will begin on October 1 and that the games will be played behind closed doors in Quebec. Training camps will open on August 30 and teams will be limited to 34 players. The calendar will have 60 games per team.
In a press release from the QMJHL, it was agreed that the 2020-2021 season would be played behind closed doors in Quebec, while details on health measures are still pending with regard to the Maritime Provinces, which present six teams. , including the Moncton Wildcats, the Halifax Mooseheads, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the Charlottetown Islanders.
Remains one “detail”: the Commissioner of the QMJHL Gilles Courteau remained very vague as to know how the teams will be able to survive by presenting matches without spectators: some teams had stressed that their future would be in danger if they did not obtain in compensation either financial aid from governments, or permission to host spectators next season.
The date of the resumption of activities in the QMJHL contrasts with those chosen by the other two main major junior hockey circuits in Canada, namely December 1 for the Ontario League (OHL) and December 4 for the League of West (WHL). At a higher level, the NHL is also planning to start its next campaign in December, as are the AHL and ECHL.
Finally, the 102nd Memorial Cup will take place from June 17 to 27, 2021 in Oshawa or Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
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