The 2020-21 Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League season began on a Friday night just over a month ago.

The Brandon Wheat Kings defeated the Southwest Cougars 5-4 in overtime at the Glenwood Memorial Complex in Souris.

In total 33 games were played before the season was suspended.

The entire province was moved to code red last Thursday because of the sharp increase in COVID-19 numbers and the tighter restrictions imposed by the government included the closure of sports facilities.

Brandon, Southwest and the Yellowhead Chiefs have played eight game each; the Norman Northstars and Parkland Rangers have played seven; the Eastman Selects and Central Plains Capitals played five games each; the Interlake Lightning, Pembina Valley Hawks, Winnipeg Bruins and Winnipeg Thrashers played four games and the Winnipeg Wild were just two games into the season when metropolitan Winnipeg was moved to code red.

The Kenora Thistles didn’t get a chance to start the season because of travel restrictions.

 
Clayton Dreger asked Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League commissioner Levi Taylor to comment on the pause in their season when our entire province was moved to code red because of the increase in COVID-19 numbers



photo courtesy Merlin Heppner