BC Hockey has cancelled all upcoming games in an attempt to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The move supports Hockey Canada’s announcement yesterday to cancel all of its sanctioned events effective immediately.
In a release BC Hockey CEO Barry Petrachenko asked the hockey community for its patience.
“The health and safety of our players, their families and their communities is our utmost priority,” he said. “This is a developing situation which we will continue to monitor closely along with Hockey Canada and the appropriate public health authorities. We will provide further information to our membership as soon as it is made available.”
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak as a pandemic. Since then, major sports organizations, such as the NHL and NBA, have postponed games until further notice.
Yesterday the B.C. government also placed a ban on all events with more than 250 people amid growing concerns around the spread of COVID-19.
Coy Cup
The cancellations affects the Terrace River Kings’ chance to face off again against the Quesnel Kangaroos in the 2020 Provincial Men’s Senior AA Championship later this month.
The two teams were set to join the Kelowna Sparta and Dawson Creek Canucks in a four-way contest following Terrace’s and Quesnel’s CIHL championship battle March 7 in Terrace. That title went to the Kangaroos in a 4-3 overtime win.
Because Quesnel is hosting the Coy Cup this year, the River Kings claimed the CIHL spot in the championship despite their loss to the Kangaroos in the CIHL final.
CIHL Championships
That game was defined as a highly physical match, with Quesnel dominating the scoreboard 3-0 in the first period.
Neither team found the net through the second, as the penalties piled up on both sides before Terrace found their focus.
The River Kings came out fierce in the third period netting three consecutive goals to end regular play in a tie.
Thirty-four seconds into overtime Quesnel scored the game-wining goal to claim the CIHL championship.
The first game of the Coy Cup championship was set for the weekend of March 28.