It’s no surprise in a normal year that the Prince George Cougars are seemingly forced to play back-to-back games, whether it’s on a weekend or a midweek series.
As the most northern team in the western conference of the Western Hockey League (WHL), visiting teams spend at least three days in the city to play on two consecutive nights, which, depending on the opponent, may end up in either four points earned or four points lost.
With COVID-19 now in play and the WHL receiving approval to play its B.C. teams in a dual hub-city format, that norm has been reduced to just a handful of circumstances given the shortened 24-game schedule, which was released this morning (March 9) by the league.
(It’s worth noting the Cougars aren’t the only team that regularly plays back-to-back games in a normal 68-game WHL season, but one of a handful.)
The return-to-play plan will see the Cougars face-off against their divisional rivals six times each in a span of 47 days, working out to roughly a game every other day with five back-to-back contests, only 25 per cent of what is seen in a normal year
Comparatively speaking, in the 2019-20 campaign, Prince George had 25 back-to-back contests prior to the COVID-19 cancellation in March 2020.
Based out of Kamloops with the Blazers and the Vancouver Giants, Prince George will also play in Kelowna, but once they’ve completed a game, they’ll be driven back to the tournament capital.
Surprisingly, those back-to-back stints are all under a scenario when they’ll play one night in Kamloops and the next in Kelowna, or vice versa.
So, for example, once Prince George completes its April 10 game at Kelowna’s Prospera Place against the Rockets, the team will hop back on the bus and return to Kamloops' Sandman Centre before its April 11 contest against Vancouver.
With the more every-other-day games on the agenda for this unique set-up, that could allow the Cougars to utilize more energy that may otherwise be lessened by a two-nighter series.
The absence of fans in the stands and a reduced noise level may be effective in the mental aspect, but the thrill of getting back to the ice is likely to get each player as pumped up as they normally would in the confines of the CN Centre.
However, with the training and skills these players go through, even in an extended off-season via the pandemic, it’s only fitting they’d be ready to on a moment’s notice.
“These are high-performance athletes that are used to being laser-focused with goals and routine and structure in their lives,” said Cougars Vice-President of Business Andy Beesley to PrinceGeorgeMatters following the March 2 green-light announcement of a B.C. Division season.
“It’s been so difficult for them, so at the end of the day, we’re just so relieved to see them back on the ice. Every game is going to be like a playoff game. Every player on the Prince George Cougars, as well as every other team, is going to be very focused on winning.”
There are no playoffs at the end of regular-season play, but it’s also unclear if the team that finishes at the top will receive a B.C. Division title.
If there is one to be awarded, the Cougars’ will look to add another red banner to the one they earned from 2017 starting on March 27 against Kamloops.
Prince George gets the opening night off, March 26, with the other four teams in action.
The Cougars’ 2020-21 schedule is as follows:
March
- 27 = Home vs. Kamloops @ 7 p.m.
- 29 = Away vs. Victoria @ 7:05 p.m.
- 31 = Home vs. Vancouver @ 7 p.m.
April
- 2 = Home vs. Kelowna @ 7 p.m.
- 4 = Guest vs. Kamloops @ 6 p.m.
- 6 = Home vs. Victoria @ 7 p.m.
- 8 = Guest vs. Vancouver @ 7 p.m.
- 10 = Guest vs. Kelowna @ 7:05 p.m.
- 11 = Home vs. Vancouver @ 6 p.m.
- 14 = Guest vs. Kamloops @ 7 p.m.
- 16 = Guest vs. Victoria @ 7:05 p.m.
- 17 = Home vs. Kelowna @ 7 p.m.
- 19 = Guest vs. Vancouver @ 7 p.m.
- 22 = Home vs. Kamloops @ 7 p.m.
- 23 = Guest vs. Kelowna @ 7:05 p.m.
- 26 = Home vs. Victoria @ 7 p.m.
- 28 = Home vs. Kamloops @ 7 p.m.
- 30 = Home vs. Victoria @ 7 p.m.
May
- 2 = Guest vs. Vancouver @ 6 p.m.
- 4 = Guest vs. Kelowna @ 7:05 p.m.
- 5 = Home vs. Vancouver @ 7 p.m.
- 8 = Guest vs. Victoria @ 7:05 p.m.
- 9 = Home vs. Kelowna @ 6 p.m.
- 12 = Guest vs. Kamloops @ 7 p.m.
During each week, Prince George and the other four clubs will undergo daily COVID-19 testing to ensure everyone is healthy to play, all conducted by DynaLIFE Medical Labs out of WHL owners’ own pockets.
If a member tests positive for the virus, the entire team shuts down for two weeks while the individual isolates and recovers.
Players will only wear masks when not on the ice; coaches will wear masks at all times, even on the bench during a game.
For more information, you're encouraged to visit the Prince George Cougars' website.
