Junior hockey was put on the back burner back in April and things just haven’t felt the same since. There were unfinished seasons, no playoffs, and players wanting more. The past few months have put the 2020-21 season up in the air for some teams in order to put player safety first.
As of now, both the Corpus Christi IceRays and Kansas City Scouts of the NAHL have opted to forgo this season. Players from each team will be subject to a dispersal draft which includes draft picks, tenders, and veterans. As for team employees and billet families, many will have to find other sources of income this year.
There is still time for things to open up and different states to lift restrictions, but as of now, these two teams have decided to take measures into their own hands. Other teams can still opt out, but doing so would cause additional scheduling conflicts around the league.
The NAHL is set to kick off their season October 9. The pushed back date also means that the NAHL Showcase will now be December 16-19 in Blaine, Minnesota. The 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament will be February 8-9 in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The NAHL Robertson Cup National Championship will be May 21-25 in Blaine, Minnesota. All of these dates are scheduled but are subject to change due to COVID-19.
