Silvertips notebook: Saturday’s game vs. Americans postponed
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 20, 2021
The Western Hockey League announced Tuesday that, due to the ongoing suspension of team activities for Tri-City, the Everett Silvertips’ game against the Americans scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed.
The suspension of team activities for Tri-City began this past Saturday after a positive COVID-19 test result from a player within the team cohort, according to the league.
The Americans originally had three games postponed, and now have added two more — Saturday’s game against Everett and a game on Sunday against the Spokane Chiefs.
The WHL said it will continue to work in consultation with the Washington State Department of Health regarding the matter concerning Tri-City Americans. Pending determination of further test results, the WHL said it will provide further information regarding makeup dates for the games.
The Silvertips travel to Spokane for back-to-back games this week on Thursday and Friday. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 6:10 p.m.
Everett currently sits alone in first place in the U.S. Division with a record of 11-3 and 22 points. The Portland Winterhawks are in second place with 15 points.
No postseason for WHL
The WHL also announced Monday that the end of the 24-game regular season will also be the end of the 2020-21 season.
The league said that due to ongoing challenges with COVID-19, including travel restrictions, it is not in a position to conduct a postseason.
“When we returned to play in February, we set out with the intention of completing a 24-game regular season schedule, knowing adjustments would be needed along the way,” WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in a press release. “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.”
Last week, the Canadian Hockey League announced the cancellation of the Memorial Cup for the second straight season.
The WHL said it will continue to work with local government at health authorities regarding schedule options for the 2021-22 regular season.
