By Canadian Press

QMJHL hopes to start playoffs later this month, while two WHL teams press pause

Apr 9, 2021 | 2:18 PM

MONTREAL — The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced a playoff plan in the midst of a COVID-19 suspension for all Quebec-based teams on Friday, while two teams in the Western Hockey League are halting activities following a positive test.

The QMJHL says the playoffs will start on April 23 with all teams qualifying.

The QMJHL postponed the start of the playoffs on April 3 after the Gatineau Olympiques and Quebec Remparts each recorded a positive test and suspended activities. Three other teams that played the Olympiques and Remparts shortly before April 3 also suspended activities.

The first round for the 12 Quebec teams will be best-of-five with lengths of subsequent series to be determined.

The three second-round winners in Quebec will join the winner of the Maritime Division playoffs for the league semifinals and final, which is scheduled to be concluded no later than June 20.

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The sixth seed in the Maritimes will play the fifth seed on May 4 a single-elimination game. The winner of that game will play the fourth seed the next day. The survivor advances to the best-of-five Maritime semifinals.

Meanwhile, the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen have suspended all activities after a player tested positive. The Medicine Hat Tigers have also suspended activities after playing the Hitmen on Monday.

The WHL also announced the discovery of two other positive tests for COVID-19 — one for the Kelowna Rockets and one for the Vancouver Giants.

The Rockets are currently are in a COVID pause, while the league says the Giants player was undergoing a mandatory quarantine and has not had any contact with teammates. 

The Ontario Hockey League, the other Canadian major junior hockey circuit, has not started a 2021 season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2021.

The Canadian Press