OHL, WHL and QMJHL officially cancel 2020 playoffs and Memorial Cup

When the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), parent organization of the OHL, WHL and QMJHL, announced the cancellation of the regular season earlier this month, no one was surprised. But now, TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie is reporting that the CHL is planning to cancel the 2020 OHL, WHL and QMJHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup.

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So far nothing official from the CHL itself, but the Bobfather’s word is as good as gold. If McKenzie reports it, you know it’s the truth. In fact, he was the first journalist to report on the CHL’s cancellation of the regular season.

McKenzie’s counterpart over at Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman, is also reporting the cancellation of the 2020 playoffs and the Memorial Cup.

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UPDATE: And now it's official:

RIP to the 2019-20 OHL, WHL and QMJHL seasons. 

Read below for the official press release announcement courtesy of the CHL:

Toronto, ON – On March 12, 2020, in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), in association with our three regional leagues the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), made the decision to pause our season and last week officially cancelled all remaining regular season games.

We have continued to monitor the latest updates and advice from all public health agencies and medical experts, and worked tirelessly to determine a scenario by which the balance of our season could be played. Unfortunately, given the troubling state of our global climate and public welfare, there is still too much risk and uncertainty to move forward in good conscience.

With that in mind, CHL President Dan MacKenzie and Commissioners David Branch, Gilles Courteau, and Ron Robison have made the difficult decision to cancel the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL playoffs, and along with the support of Kia Canada as the presenting sponsor, to cancel the 2020 Memorial Cup which was scheduled to be held in Kelowna, B.C., May 22-31, 2020.

The CHL, WHL, OHL, and QMJHL all take great pride in providing the best environment for our players both on and off the ice with health and safety for them, and all stakeholders of our game, at the forefront.

We look forward with hope that next season will provide new opportunity to celebrate, and that the Memorial Cup will be presented at our prestigious national championship, hosted by the OHL in May, 2021.