A YEAR THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET
Brandon, MB. — A stunning ownership change, a new head coach and a world wide pandemic – that’s what fans of the Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings were witnesses to this past year.
One year ago today, Manitoba announced its first case of COVID-19 and the local sports world was changed forever.
Today, life returns to some form of normalcy as the Wheat Kings return to the ice to face the Moose Jaw Warriors in the opening game of an abbreviated 24-game WHL schedule in Regina.
This afternoon’s game will mark the Wheat Kings first game since they dropped a 4-2 decision to the visiting Prince Albert Raiders before over 3,800 fans at Westoba Place on Saturday, March 7th, 2020.
In that game, local product Max Paddock turned aside 28 shots to lead the first place Raiders while Brandon got goals from Ben McCartney and Reid Perepeluk.
With the Wheat Kings battling the Winnipeg ICE for home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, things changed days later when concerns over the coronavirus forced both the National Hockey League and the Western Hockey League to cancel the balance of their regular season schedules.
That decision led to weeks and months without hockey as the sports world grappled with the world wide pandemic.
To help understand and to remember this past year, it’s important to look back at the many developments that helped pave the way to where we find ourselves today and the start of a new WHL season.
March 18th, 2020
The Western Hockey League announces plans to cancel the balance of the 2019-20 regular season, in hopes of returning for the playoffs.
“The WHL takes the safety of our players, officials, staff, fans and everyone associated with the WHL very seriously,” said league commissioner Ron Robison at the time. “Given the ongoing public health developments regarding COVID-19, we deemed it necessary to cancel the remaining games on the 2019-20 regular season schedule.”
Less than a week later….
March 23rd , 2020
WHL Commissioner Ron Robison, following a meeting with the League Board of Governors and consultation with medical professionals, it was determined that the best course of action was the cancellation of the 2020 WHL Playoffs and Memorial Cup, scheduled for Kelowna, B.C.
In making the announcement, Robison said “All of us at the WHL will continue to do our part in battling this virus so that we may be in a position to enjoy more WHL hockey.”
In a letter to our many fans, Robison went on to say….
“The world we know has changed dramatically in a matter of weeks. As disappointed as we are with the cancellation of the 2019-20 WHL season and Memorial Cup, the events that we are witnessing each day surrounding the global COVID-19 pandemic serve as a stark reminder that there are many things far more important than hockey. These are challenging times. Just as a team goes through its ups and downs each season, we need to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
June 17th, 2020
The Western Hockey League – after cancelling its 2020 playoffs and Memorial Cup, announce plans to play a full 68-game 2020-21 schedule, with opening day scheduled for Friday, October 2nd.
Wheat Kings Owner Kelly McCrimmon was quick to stress that the October date was just a starting point.
“We’re hopeful that children will go back to school in the fall, which again is one more layer of normalcy,” he told the Brandon Sun. “We don’t know that for sure. No one does, I personally felt it was important that we pick a date to work towards to give a little bit of clarity to our players and our fans to know what we’re working towards.”
August 6th, 2020
“In our discussions with the government and health authorities, it has become apparent that additional time is required to ensure we can return to play in a safe and responsible manner,” Robison
And with that, the WHL announced that the 2020-21 regular season would not start in October and instead, the new target date unveiled was Friday, December 4th. At the same time, the WHL announced that it was still committed to playing a full regular season schedule of 68 games.
While the league and its teams did their best to communicate with fans and their corporate partners about the new plans, western Manitoba hockey fans had more to digest with talk that the local hockey team’s ownership was about to change.
September 8th, 2020
Longtime owner and governor Kelly McCrimmon announced plans to sell the WHL franchise to the J&G Group of Companies. The transfer of ownership was unanimously approved by the WHL Board of Governors, with the franchise officially changing hands on September 15th.
“This was an extremely difficult decision for our family,” said McCrimmon, who serves as general manager of the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights. “The Wheat Kings have been our life, from playing here for two years and then operating the team for 31 years, 28 of those as an owner. There have been so many incredible moments, the victories, the people, the staff and of course the many players over the years that have worn our uniform.”
“Kelly McCrimmon has been synonymous with the Wheat Kings for as long as most WHL fans can remember,” said the WHL Commissioner.
“This is a very exciting day for myself, my family and business partners,” said Jared Jacobson. “Our ownership group is looking forward to adding new energy and new ideas to one of the most storied franchises in the Canadian Hockey League.”
October 15th, 2020
The WHL announces that the start of the 2020-21 regular season has been pushed back to Friday, January 8th, 2021.
While fans waited patiently for the start of the regular season, the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets came calling and the Wheat Kings were suddenly looking for a new head coach.
November 23rd, 2020
The Winnipeg Jets announced that Brandon coach Dave Lowry was joining his son Adam and the National Hockey League franchise as an assistant coach.
November 24th, 2020
With Lowry off to the National Hockey League, the Wheat Kings quickly filled their head coaching vacancy by promoting assistant Don MacGillivray.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity and I’d like to thank the ownership and management of the Brandon Wheat Kings for entrusting me with this position,” said MacGillivray. “I’m honoured, and I’m also grateful for the opportunity that I had working with Dave Lowry last season and David Anning the seasons previous.”
Soon after the WHL club added Todd Miller and Daniel Johnston to its coaching staff, joining Mark Derlago and Tyler Plante.
December 15th, 2020
The WHL revealed that the start of the regular season had been pushed back again for an undetermined period. The new plan called for the league’s board of governors to meet in January to discuss possible timetables for the 2020-21 regular season. The latest decision was made following more talks with regional health authorities in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
In a related move, the league announced that it had developed several protocols that would take effect when the season did resume.
January 8th, 2021
Following a pivotal board of governors meeting, the WHL said that they were committed to a 24-game regular season despite ongoing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league also announced that the start date “will be determined once final approval has been received from both the health authorities in each provincial and state jurisdiction.”
January 17th, 2021
The WHL unveiled its new Return to Play Protocols and plans for a new LIVE Streaming Service, provided by Verizon.
January 28th, 2021
The WHL announced that Alberta’s Central Division clubs would open up a 24-game regular season schedule on Friday, February 26th, the first of four divisions to announce plans to resume play.
February 12th, 2021
Following approval by public health officials from the Government of Saskatchewan, the WHL announced that seven East Division clubs, including the Wheat Kings and Winnipeg ICE would open up their regular season schedule on Friday, March 12th in a Hub Center located in Regina.
“The WHL appreciates the cooperation we have received from both the governments of Saskatchewan and Manitoba as we work towards a safe return to play,” said Robison. “With our extensive protocols and the necessary approvals now in place, we’re looking forward to play getting underway in Regina and allowing our players to continue their development at the highest level in the Canadian system.”
February 27th, 2021
Members of the seven Hub Center clubs, including the Wheat Kings arrived at the University of Regina, in preparation for the season.
March 5th, 2021
Following approval by local health authorities, the Wheat Kings hit the ice at Regina’s Brandt Centre for their first practice in almost a full year.
The effects of the novel coronavirus and how the pandemic has changed our lives will never be forgotten. However, here’s hoping that sports and in particular, the Wheat Kings and the WHL will help us get through what we hope are the last few weeks and months of these trying times.
Lets play hockey!
