The BC Hockey League will play a shortened, five-week 2020-21 season after its return to play plan was approved by the B.C.’s Provincial Health Officials.

There will be five ‘pods’ set up across the province in Penticton, Coquitlam, Chilliwack, Vernon, and Port Alberni. Three to four teams set to play each other in each of those locations.

“After months and months of hard work behind the scenes by the league’s Return-to-Play Task Force, we are pleased to make the announcement today that the BCHL will be back on the ice to play the 2020-21 season,” BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb said, in a statement.

“This entire process has always been about our players and giving them the best chance to get back to playing games and showcasing their skills, and we have accomplished that today.”

The BCHL season will get underway in the first week of April, with a schedule set to be released in the coming weeks.

“We want to thank the PHO, the Chief Medical Health Officers and regional public health staff for working with us on our proposal over the past few weeks and getting it to a point that both sides felt was safe,” BCHL Board of Governors Chair, Graham Fraser, said.

“We proved in our extended exhibition season in the fall that our COVID-19 Safety Plan was effective after playing 89 games with zero transmissions, and we look forward to working within that system again.”

Speaking on NL Newsday, Health Minister Adrian Dix was asked about the delay in the BCHL getting its approval. It comes over two months after the Canucks were cleared to play at Rogers Arena, and ten days after the WHL got its approval for BC Division hubs in Kamloops and Kelowna.

“It’s just things have never been done before. We’re in the middle of a pandemic and it has to be realistic,” Dix said. “The NHL has resources that allows them to do things the WHL doesn’t, and the WHL has resources that the BCHL doesn’t.”

“Some of that feels unfair – it does feel unfair, but we have to ensure people are safe and that these things are done safely.”

The BCHL has hired a Chief Medical Officer to oversee all of the league’s COVID-19 safety protocols for the season, including testing and a quarantine period for players and team staff.

“It’s been a long road for everyone involved with the league since we were shut down in November, but we are grateful that we get a chance to finish what we started and get our young athletes back on the ice,” Fraser added.

More details are expected to be released this weekend as the league works out the final details with health officials.