The Ice Wolves board decided two weeks ago the team would disband until fall. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Junior Hockey

Ice Wolves coach calls sudden end of SJHL season ‘tough’

Mar 23, 2021 | 2:00 PM

La Ronge Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said the cancellation of the remainder of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season is “just sad all-around.”

“It’s tough on the kids, it’s tough on the community, it’s tough on the organization and it’s tough on the coaches,” he said. “These kids are wanting to get scholarships and move up to the next level. At this time in life, it’s very difficult and it’s rotten. It’s rotten for the kids.”

In a release Tuesday morning, SJHL President Bill Chow explaining “the current conditions of COVID-19 in the Province of Saskatchewan do not appear to allow a return to play, now or in the next few weeks,” and the 2020-21 season will “not have an ending.” It mentioned the SJHL will now turn its focus on returning to play in September 2021.

There had been discussion about hosting teams in either Estevan or Weyburn in a COVID-19 free bubble, but Kaminski noted it was decided two weeks ago the Ice Wolves wouldn’t participate if such a plan did move forward. He said there was too much of a risk if a player on the team tested positive for COVID-19, along with expenses such as weeks of hotel accommodations and meals.

“I know the Weyburn organization and also the Estevan organization, you got to give them a big time pat on the back for all the work they did to prepare to do the bubble,” Kaminski said. “All of that work goes wayside now. Those guys were relentless in getting this bubble to go.”

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Before the SJHL regular season was paused in November, the Ice Wolves played five games and won all but one. The last game for the Ice Wolves was at the Mel Hegland Uniplex on Nov. 20, 2020, against the Melfort Mustangs.

Kaminski believes it would have been a productive season for the Ice Wolves as the team had a solid defensive core, a skilled lineup and good goalkeeping. He thought the Ice Wolves were more balanced than the first year he coached the team.

“You can try and prepare and recruit all year long and try and get the right guys in, which I thought we did, but unfortunately, it comes to another halt,” Kaminski said.

The SJHL season has been on hold since Nov. 23, 2020, at which point the league released a statement of their intent to return in the new year. The 2019-20 post-season was also cancelled March 12, 2020, due to concerns surrounding the beginning of the pandemic.

Kaminski noted season ticket holders will be reimbursed or be given tickets for the next season.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno