'An extra step': More than 95 per cent of WHL players, coaches and staff already vaccinated
Following the lead of the Ontario and Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues, the Western Hockey League made COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all players, coaches and staff for the upcoming season.
According to WHL commissioner Ron Robison, more than 95 per cent of the people that fall under the league’s mandatory vaccination policy were already fully vaccinated before Monday’s announcement.
"Our objective has always been to make sure we provide as safe and healthy environment as possible for the players and staff and this is an extra step," Robison told CTV News on Tuesday.
Robison said the decision was made after consultation with the teams and health officials in each province and state.
The league’s policy will apply to anyone that will interact directly and on a regular basis with players, like hockey operations staff, coaches, trainers, equipment managers, on-ice officials, and ice level off-ice officials.
Anyone falling under that criteria will need to be fully vaccinated 14 days prior to the start of the regular season on Oct. 1.
After spending the 2020-21 season in a hub with the rest of the East Division at the Brandt Centre, the Regina Pats are welcoming the decision by the WHL.
"Having the policy in place will mitigate any risk to those individuals and risk to seeing a season again that is either abbreviated or cancelled outright," Travis Buhnai, chief operating officer of the Regina Pats, said.
The WHL has 17 Canadian teams across four provinces and five American teams. The league said travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border and in Manitoba made the decision necessary.
"It was necessary for us to take the next step in this regard in order to make sure all players and staff could participate in our entire schedule during the regular season and playoffs," Robison said.
While the league was able to get in a shortened season during the pandemic with each team playing within its own divisions, Robison said he’s looking forward to a return to a more normal season, which this policy protects.
"We’re really excited to get going with our training camps on Sept. 1 and then the regular season Oct. 1 and can’t wait to see fans back in the building as well to be part of this," he said.
The WHL plans on having further protocols in place to limit the spread of the virus, but when it comes to proof of vaccination for fans, the league will be leaving that decision up to each individual team.
The Pats said they plan on following the current public health guidelines, similar to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, which don’t require fans to be vaccinated to be in attendance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
World No. 1 golfer charged with police officer assault before PGA Championship second round
World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with the assault of a police officer in what he called a 'chaotic situation' before being released in time to start his second round at the PGA Championship on Friday.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
B.C. optometrist warns against trending eye colour change procedure
A medical procedure that can permanently change a person's eye colour may be trending on social media, but a B.C. optometrist is warning about the significant risks associated.