The Silvertips’ Brendan Lee controls the puck with the Blades’ Matej Toman defending during a game on Nov. 22, 2019, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

The Silvertips’ Brendan Lee controls the puck with the Blades’ Matej Toman defending during a game on Nov. 22, 2019, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

No fans, no season: Silvertips’ league lays out return plan

The WHL says teams must be allowed to have arenas at 50% capacity in order for next season to begin.

The Western Hockey League is targeting Oct. 2 as the start date for the 2020-21 season, and the league is committed to playing a full 68-game schedule. However, the league will need to receive the go-ahead from the governments of all six states and provinces that comprise the league that it’s safe to play games before resuming, and the league won’t play games until arenas are allowed to open to fans at approximately 50% capacity.

Those were the takeaways from WHL commissioner Ron Robison’s Zoom press conference from Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday, during which the commissioner spoke about the league’s plan for returning to play amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

The league, of which the Everett Silvertips are a member, had to shut down in March because of the coronavirus outbreak, forcing the cancellation of the conclusion of the 2019-20 regular season and all of the 2020 postseason.

On Wednesday the league issued a press release saying it was targeting Oct. 2 as the start date for 2020-21, and on Thursday Robison expanded upon the conditions that would be required for the season to begin. Health districts from all of the league’s six jurisdictions (Washington and Oregon in the United States; British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada) would need to declare it’s safe to play games — and to do so with fans in the stands.

“Obviously as a spectator-driven league we need spectators in order to make it work,” Robison said. “That is a key criteria. There are essentially two criteria to our return-to-play protocol. No. 1 is to demonstrate to the health authorities in each of our jurisdictions that we can return in a safe and responsible manner, taking into account always the health and safety of our players and everyone associated with the league. Secondly is to arrive at a capacity that will allow our teams to resume operations. We have set at the present time approximately 50% that we will require for that to occur.”

Robison had few details about what the league would need to show the health districts, saying the league was in discussions with the various health districts and hoped to have answers within the next 30 days.

However, Robison was firm about the need for teams to be able to play in front of at least half-full arenas to be financially viable. For the Everett Silvertips, who play in the 8,149-seat Angel of the Winds Arena, that would mean playing in front of crowds not much larger than 4,000. Last season Everett averaged 5,730 fans per home game, so being limited to 50% capacity will have a substantial impact on the franchise’s finances.

“It’s going to be a huge impact,” Silvertips governor Zoran Rajcic said. “If we stay at 50% it’s going to be a tight season financially.

“The return-to-play protocol does have an escalating scale, where the percentage would be smaller at the beginning of the year and grow through the season, so that by the end of the season we’d be almost back to full capacity,” Rajcic added. “If that happens, and if we’re able to make the playoffs, we can make up some of the losses from the beginning of the season. But if we play the whole season at 50% it will be very tight.”

The financial realities are also why the league is committed to playing a full season, as teams are dependent upon their 34 home dates for revenue. While Oct. 2 is the target date to start the season, Robison said that date was flexible. He said the start could be pushed back to December and the league could still complete a full season, with alterations made to the postseason to compensate.

Rajcic said that he does not believe the financial consequences threaten the franchise’s viability in Everett. The Tips have won seven U.S. Division championships and two Western Conference titles in their 17 seasons of existence.

Robison acknowledged that the league may need to make alterations to its schedule to accommodate health recommendations. That could include teams playing exclusively within their own division early in the season, or increasing the number of games against divisional opponents. Robison said there was no plan for U.S. teams to temporarily relocate to Canada to avoid any complications with the U.S.-Canada border, which currently remains closed to nonessential travel through July 21. Robison said the schedule would not be revealed until August or September at the earliest.

Everett has the twin complication of being a U.S.-based team in a league where the vast majority of the players come from Canada, as well as being located near the epicenter of what was one of the original coronavirus hotspots. However, Rajcic said he has not heard reservations from players or parents about playing in Everett.

“Dennis (Williams, Everett’s coach) and Garry (Davidson, the Tips’ general manager) have been speaking with all the players,” Rajcic said. “We haven’t had anyone express concerns to this point in time. If there was a big increase in cases later, we might encounter that. But to this time no players have discussed not being interested in coming back to play in Everett.”

The altered timeline for the season means there will be a change to when players will report for training camps. Typically players report during the last week of August in anticipation of the season beginning in mid-to-late September. However, this season players will report two weeks prior to the start of the regular season, with Robison giving a Sept. 15 date should the season start on Oct. 2. Rajcic said the Tips will cut back dramatically on the number of players who attend training camp, reducing the number from approximately 100 to about 35 who have a realistic chance of making the team in 2020-21.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

A look at the top prep boys basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.