WHL Mandates Vaccinations for 2021-22

[The Dude]

The WHL will require all players, hockey operations staff, and league personnel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the 2021-22 season, the league announced Monday.

 

All three of the CHL's umbrella leagues will enforce the policy, as the OHL and QMJHL recently made announcements of their own.

 

"The health and safety of our players and staff continues to be the number one priority for the WHL," said WHL commissioner Ron Robison. "The policy is designed to further protect our players and staff in the WHL from the potential risk of exposure to COVID-19."

 

"With travel restrictions currently in place with the Canada-U.S. border as well as the province of Manitoba, it is important all players and staff are fully vaccinated in order to be eligible to play a full season in the WHL."

 

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2192340

 

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I find this odd. Does this shift potential players to go to other leagues or do we see more of a tryout type situation in the minors?

 

No matter where you stand on the vaccine, this really has potential to sway kids from pursuing their future if they aren't for the vaccine.

 

Let's not dive into their reasoning or any politicsplease, but more or less the impact this might have.

[Phil]

It's not going to have much of an impact. If one or two ardent refusalists decide not to pursue professional hockey because a junior developmental league is mandating vaccination against a deadly global pandemic, so be it.

[Cash or Czech]

If anything, it'll prevent more of those last-minute cancellations and reschedulings due to COVID outbreaks. Good move in my book.

[phillyb]

Don't know why this isn't happening in every league...every where.