Premier Doug Ford offered a potential “treat” for hockey fans on Hallowe’en, taking to Twitter to address the Ontario Hockey League’s return to play protocols.
The Premier says he would like the OHL to return “as normal as possible WITH body checking” when play resumes.
Ford tweeted that the province is working with the OHL to create a safe return involving physical contact. Any plan would have to be approved by health experts.
We are engaging with the @OHLHockey to create a safe return to play plan, which will need to be approved by health experts. To date no decisions have been made. I would like to see the OHL return as normal as possible with body checking.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 1, 2020
On Friday, Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, Lisa MacLeod once again doubled down, saying that body checking would not be permitted if the league resumed.
Many hockey fans across the province have been critical of the potential lack of contact in the OHL. While limiting close contact is understandable, a lack of body checking is seen by many as a limitation to skill development, scouting and evaluation at a very critical stage. Not to mention the close contact that is already a part of every face-off, scrum at the boards, races for loose pucks, net front play and potential verbal exchanges seen during every on-ice affair.
The OHL’s current return to play protocols call for a shortened season to begin February 4th.
