By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

update

Hockey Canada says no to allowing extra season for overage juniors

Feb 18, 2021 | 2:18 PM

Hockey Canada says it will not be granting 20-year-olds an extra year of eligibility.

Olds Grizzlys forward Malik Kaddoura had started a petition asking Hockey Canada to consider doing so. Kaddoura said having his final year wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic has had mental health consequences, and has also led to many players in their final year missing out on opportunities to impress NHL and post-secondary scouts.

“Hockey Canada does not anticipate changing its age classifications for the 2021-22 season,” the organization says in a statement to rdnewsNOW.

“Hockey Canada has empathy for any young person who has been deprived of the opportunity to experience significant events in their lives over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as attending their high school graduation, leaving home for the first time to attend university, or participating in extra-curricular activities, including playing hockey.”

Hockey Canada adds that while the physical and mental health impacts on players is immeasurable, it is not of the belief that making changes to its age divisions for just one age group is the right thing to do.

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In particular, Hockey Canada notes younger players who’ve experienced similar health impacts would also be affected by such an extension.

“While our members in several parts of the country continue to hold out hope that they will be able to offer our players the opportunity to return to the ice before the end of the current season, it has become apparent that whatever hockey activities those members may be able to offer, will differ significantly from those that are offered during a typical hockey season,” adds Hockey Canada.

Earlier this month Hockey Alberta announced the cancellation of its senior and junior hockey seasons, though the AJHL wasn’t included in that. An AJHL spokesperson says the league will have a status update on its season this Friday, but that it is bound by Hockey Canada’s ruling on 20-year-olds.

Kaddoura, who learned of Hockey Canada’s decision from rdnewsNOW, calls it disappointing and says it feels like his age group is getting left behind.

He adds that if the AJHL can find a way to play a shortened season, he’d still be excited to seize the opportunity.

At the time of publication, Kaddoura’s petition, which launched about three weeks ago, has more than 1,150 signatures.