No team could stop the Battlefords North Stars this year in the SJHL, but the coronavirus did.
Friday afternoon the Canadian Junior Hockey League confirmed that all remaining playoffs were officially cancelled with no chance of restarting. All hockey related activities in all of its 10 member leagues, including the SJHL, are cancelled completely including the playoffs, league finals, regional championships and Centennial Cup National Jr. A Championships.
The events had been cancelled "until further notice" the previous day, leaving open the possibility that the games might resume. In a news release Friday the CJHL stated that in further consultation with Hockey Canada cancellation of the playoffs was "an unavoidable outcome."
"We continue to align our direction, consistent with that of Hockey Canada, and support their overall direction completely," said CJHL President Brent Ladds in a statement.
The SJHL also announced the official cancellation of the rest of the season on Twitter.
"We regret to inform you that the 2019/2020 SJHL season has been officially cancelled.聽
"Decisions like this are never made lightly. That said, sometimes we have to put the greater good ahead of our own needs or wants."
That means the official end of what had been a spectacular season for the North Stars, with great hopes of repeating as Canalta Cup champions. The team won 45 games during the regular season, and had clinched first place overall in the league during the regular season.
At the time of the cancellation announcement, the North Stars were leading the Nipawin Hawks in their first round series three games to one. They had been scheduled to host game five at the Civic Centre tonight, but that is not going ahead.聽
