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With league and team officials remaining hopeful that there will be a 2020-21 Ontario Hockey League season of some sort, it’s no surprise that discussions of hub cities have come up.
With COVID-19 numbers in Ontario tending downward, we could be inching closer to a potential return for teams, but there will be a lot to consider in order to make that work.
With the Canadian border with the United States remaining closed at this point, the use of hub cities seemingly makes the most sense so the OHL’s three American-based clubs – the Erie Otters, Flint Firebirds, and Saginaw Spirit – are among those competing when regular season games actually begin.
Exactly how the league would decide what teams play in what hubs wouldn’t necessarily be a major sticking point.
One would have to think that four hub cities, which is what has been rumoured to be the case, makes the most sense if the league decides to go that route.
At this point, if the OHL is serious about using hub cities, be it two or four or any other number, the league is likely giving serious consideration at this point to what cities make the most sense.
In making the decision, COVID numbers throughout the pandemic will play a role, as will the facility itself in each market.
There are some that stand out in both at this point.
One that immediately comes to mind is Kingston and the Leon’s Centre, home of the Frontenacs.
As the province is currently easing restrictions in some areas, the Kingston area has moved into the Green-Prevent level of the provincial COVID-19 Response Framework.
The health unit in the area (Kingston Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health) was reporting just 25 active cases in the region and one hospitalization as of Tuesday morning. The health unit covers an area with a population of roughly 200,000 residents.
As for the facility, the Leon’s Centre is a relatively new facility (opened in 2008) and hotels in the vicinity for teams are not an issue either.
One city that hasn’t come up as a potential hub city thus far is Owen Sound.
For me, the city deserves some consideration in this discussion.
As of Tuesday’s provincial report, there were 22 active cases in the region.
Add to that the fact that the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, home of the Attack, is a cross-parking lot walk from a hotel, teams would be able to be sheltered as well and be close to the rink.
Being a small city, if more hotels were needed to house teams for the duration of the season, there are enough that are a relatively short drive from the rink if need be.
Speaking of markets with hotels in close proximity to the arenas, Hamilton comes into play as well.
In addition to a hotel being basically onsite, the FirstOntario Centre, home to the OHL’s Bulldogs, also has two other hotels within a block of the facility.
Though the city was reporting 307 active COVID cases as of Tuesday, the fact that there are three hotels so close to the arena is a major plus for the league.
A city that could be taken into consideration as well is Sault Ste. Marie.
With 12 active cases in the region according to the provincial numbers updated Tuesday morning and a trio of hotels within walking distance of the GFL Memorial Gardens, there’s no reason the city shouldn’t at least be considered.
With each arena hosting five teams, there’s no reason each of the four facilities couldn’t make something like this work.
The next question would be financials.
Having 20 teams split among four cities and the health protocols that would need to be in place wouldn’t come cheap.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League have received some forms of provincial funding as they return to play.
For the OHL to make this work, the league would likely need some financial help from the provincial government seeing that teams are already likely in very tough spots financially.
Though there are some positives as far as the OHL returning to the ice at some point in the coming months, there’s likely going to be a lot of negotiation to make it happen as well.