(File photo by Keith Hershmiller/Regina Pats)
Seven WHL teams will be living in a bubble in Regina in the coming months â and the hometown Pats are ecstatic about it.
The WHL announced Friday it had received approval from Saskatchewan health authorities to make Regina the hub city for the East Division for the 2021 regular season.
The leagueâs five Saskatchewan-based teams (the Pats, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Saskatoon Blades and Swift Current Broncos) and the two squads based in Manitoba (Brandon Wheat Kings and Winnipeg Ice) will play all of their games at the Brandt Centre.
Each team is to play 24 games in the regular season, which is to start March 12.
Western Hockey League s East Division set to play season in Regina hub
Regina Pats forward Cameron Hebig (41) fights for control of the puck with Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward Samuel Asselin (28) during third period of the Memorial Cup final in Regina on Sunday, May 27, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward February 12, 2021 - 6:05 PM
CALGARY - The Western Hockey League says it has approval from the Saskatchewan government to play a 24-game East Division season in a hub in Regina starting next month.
Friday s announcement means three of the WHL s four divisions are now cleared to start play during the COVID-19 pandemic, with only the B.C. Division lacking permission.
Economist, hotels weigh in on possibility of Regina WHL bubble cjme.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cjme.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Saskatoon / 650 CKOM
Feb 5, 2021 7:09 AM
Regina mayor Sandra Masters working in her office at City Hall on Dec. 21, 2020. (Joseph Ho/980 CJME)
If the WHL drops the puck in a hub city this year, Regina Mayor Sandra Masters wants it to happen in the Queen City.
“The City of Regina has a long and storied history as it relates to WHL and hockey in general in our cultural and economic landscape, but in terms of being able to providing food services and space in hotel to create those bubbles, it would help our hospitality industry,” Masters said, noting she has written a letter in support of the idea to WHL Commissioner Ron Robison.
GM confident Sask. WHL teams will play a shortened season
The general manager of one of Saskatchewan s Western Hockey League teams is confident the team will play a shortened season amid the pandemic, citing positive discussions with the provincial government.
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Alan Millar, Moose Jaw Warriors GM, believes season similar to that approved in Alta. could happen here
Posted: Feb 04, 2021 9:11 AM CT | Last Updated: February 4
The teams may be able to play in their home arenas, or they ll pick a hub city and create a bubble similar to those of the NHL or NBA last season, depending on what is agreed upon.(Lucas Chudleigh/Apollo Multimedia)