The Ice Wolves will still host a banquet to end the season. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Junior Hockey

‘It’s like a bad nightmare’: Ice Wolves coach reacts to playoffs cancellation

Mar 13, 2020 | 5:00 PM

La Ronge Ice Wolves Head Coach Kevin Kaminski said it’s a sad day for hockey after learning the remainder of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season is cancelled.

“It obviously sucks, put it that way,” Kaminski said. “Our season is cancelled. There are no more playoffs, it’s done. You play for something all year long, and you feel you have just as good as chance as anybody in the league to win the championship and now it’s taken away.”

The cancellation was announced Friday by the Canadian Junior Hockey League due to the ongoing global COVID-19. The cancellation includes all of the playoffs that were currently underway, as well as the regional championships including the Anavet Cup between the SJHL and Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL). The cancellation also includes the national championship, otherwise known as the Centennial Cup that was slated for Portage la Prairie, Man.

The Ice Wolves were on their way to Yorkton on Thursday when Kaminski said they were told to turn around near Melfort and go back to La Ronge. Kaminski met with players today and told them about the cancellation.

“I feel bad for all of them, but the 20-year-olds, the farther they go, the more they are going to be watched, the more colleges are going to be asking for them and now their season is done,” he said. “It leaves a big hole in the heart and it’s frustrating. It’s like a bad nightmare.”

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Throughout Kaminski’s decades of experience in hockey, he noted the cancellation of the remainder of the season goes unmatched. The most comparable event he could liken it to was when he was in the United States and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack occurred.

Kaminski noted the Ice Wolves will move ahead with their end of season banquet next week either on Friday or Saturday.

“It sucks, it’s bad timing,” he said. “Not only for sports, but everyone in general. It’s put a stop to everything.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno