Head coach unsure if Ice Wolves would play in altered season. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Junior Hockey

Ice Wolves could hang up skates until fall

Feb 25, 2021 | 12:10 PM

La Ronge Ice Wolves head coach Kevin Kaminski isn’t concerned about Feb. 28 being the last day of ice in the Mel Hegland Uniplex.

“There’s no sense in keeping the ice in and wasting money when we’re not even going to be there to practice and play,” he said. “There will be no practicing, no games at the Mel Hegland this season.”

Even if the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is given permission to go ahead with an altered season, Kaminski explained practices and games would occur in one or two bubbles in a host community. That would likely involve a period of quarantine, followed by a few days to practice and up to six weeks to complete.

If given permission to play in bubbles, Kaminski noted no decision has been made on if the Ice Wolves would participate as it could cost between $70,000 to $80,000.

“You’re going to have to be in a hotel for six weeks, then there’s three meals per player and staff every day,” he said. “There’s some thought to put into this if we even play or not.”

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In the meantime, Kaminski mentioned recruiting is ongoing for next season and some prospective players have already sent in a video of themselves. In the last four years, he said it’s become common for players who want to join the team to send in footage of them exhibiting their skills.

There will be some tough upcoming decisions to made, however, as Kaminski added there are a number of 20-year-olds on the team who will have to be let go.

“It’s a crazy time, and hopefully this will be all behind us soon and hopefully for sure by the start of the season next year,” he said. “We’re doing the best we can, relying on our scouts who are put in place all over North America in the States and Canada. Hopefully, we can get the right ones and keep the winning ways in La Ronge.”

The season is also coming to an end for La Ronge Minor Hockey, which utilizes the Mel Hegland Uniplex on a regular basis. Club President Brad Johns previously told larongeNOW the organization wanted to continue practices until at least the end of February.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno