LAC LA BICHE - Officials with the Lac La Biche Clippers are confirming that tonight's game with the St. Paul Canadiens has been postponed due to a possible COVID case on the St. Paul team.
Saying the virus result has still not been confirmed, the Clippers' Ali Fyith says the teams are taking no chances and have agreed to cancel the game that was to be played on the Bold Center ice tonight.
The game was to be the second of the back-to-back series with St. Paul. In Sunday's game in St. Paul, the Canadiens took it to the Clippers 7-2. The two teams were supposed to play in the league's championship finals in March, but the pandemic closed the league down before their series could happen. Months later, COVID has again affected the teams.
As COVID cases across the region continue to rise, Fyith said if junior level hockey is allowed to continue, the game will likely be rescheduled after the Clippers finish their next round of cohort games with the Vermilion Tigers. Those games are scheduled to take place starting December 3 — the same date for the Canadiens' next set of games begin with the Lloydminster Bandits. In both of those games the Lac La Biche and St. Paul teams are playing away.
The notice of tonight's game cancellation is on the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League. The game was supposed to be the eleventh game of the league's COVID-shortened season.
As of the team's most recent mandatory health check, Clippers manager Willie Abougouche says no players are reporting symptoms of the virus since Sunday's game.
"No one showing anything, according to the health check," said Abougouche.
Tonight's rematch between the regional rivals was supposed to start at 8 pm and officials were expecting a maximum crowd — with COVID measures in place — of 100 people for the game.
