CANMORE – The Eagles nest will remain empty until next season.
The Canmore Eagles opted out for the remainder of the Alberta Junior A Hockey League's (AJHL) 2020-21 season on Sunday (Feb. 21), citing challenges in meeting provincial requirements of the return to play plan and existing restrictions due to COVID-19.
A major obstacle the Eagles organization was facing is one of the club’s oldest foes: finding billet homes.
“There was just nowhere to house the players,” said Andrew Milne, Eagles head coach and general manager. “We had been talking to our billets and our billeting community throughout the entire season and then when the shutdown happened in November, we were in constant communication with them, so they knew this was coming … I guess the answer to that is they didn’t feel comfortable [billeting], which is completely understandable.”
The season-ending decision came after last week’s AJHL announcement to return to the ice in March after play was suspended last December.
Teams start training camps early next month and competition will follow later in March with game play exclusively on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through to the end of May.
There are currently no games scheduled, or indication of how many games remain for each of the 14 participating teams.
As other players and staff prepare to compete for the Inter Pipeline Cup, the league's championship, the Eagles swift exit has been solemn for everyone involved, said Milne.
“We want to play, we’re here to play, and I want to play as badly as anyone else, and I feel for the players,” Milne said. “That’s what stings the most when we’re not returning to play; I feel for the players.”
With the Eagles opting out, its players have been granted releases from the club, allowing them to play elsewhere for the remainder of 2020-21 if a deal can be finalized by Thursday (Feb. 25).
Overall, four to five players are working on deals, including defencemen Drae Gardiner and Dylan Witzke, who are headed to the Whitecourt Wolverines of the AJHL’s north division.
Conditions of the release include that players' rights return to the Eagles in 2021-22.
Milne did not comment if any COVID-19 related fears within the club contributed to backing out after a troubled season where a series of hardships struck the Eagles, including an outbreak among staff and players, and punishment handed down from the league.
During pre-season, the Eagles were blindsided and left off an initial seven-game pre-season calendar following survey feedback from the local club’s head office.
Once the season got underway, there were limited opportunities for fans to sit in attendance at AJHL games this season.
Butts-in-seats means dollars for the Eagles and a lack of revenue was a concern for the club. However, Milne said they could have made it work for the remainder of the season.
Fans or no fans, the club went 2-0, defeating the Drumheller Dragons twice in a home and away in mid-November.
Milne said he thought the club was “set up for success” this season, but on the bus ride back from the Badlands, everything changed and the Eagles suffered a devastating COVID-19 outbreak.
At least 15 players and staff were exposed to the virus and tested positive later that month.
The AJHL suspended all league play in mid-December, but the Eagles haven't played since Nov. 14.
Following that, Milne was punished by the league for speaking openly to the media about the outbreak that affected his team.
He received a 15-game suspension and $1,000 fine, which was paid through a GoFundMe by supporters rallying behind the coach.
The coach's suspension will start in 2021-22.
“The positive in all this is, we have some time right now to prepare for next season and to make sure we come back strong in August and September when hopefully we get back to normal," Milne said.
"We can be a stronger program and have all our players placed in billets prior to the start of training camp and have our staff in place earlier and get ourselves focused on what the 2021-22 season is going to be all about.”
