CHL foresees franchises going out of business, seeks government help

The Canadian Hockey League is concerned that the COVID-19 pandemic may be driving some franchises out of business. They have hired lobbyists to seek financial assistance for its 60 major junior teams.

The CHL was forced to cancel the 2019-20 season for its three leagues, the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior League. They also cancelled the Memorial Cup Playoff.

In an email to TSN on Thursday, CHL president Dan MacKenzie confirmed that the league hired lobbyists including Raphael Brass, a former soldier in the Israeli Army and legislative advisor to Parliament's Scott Simms. Brass works for a lobbyist organization in Ottawa called Bluesky Strategy Group.

“We have teams in 52 communities across Canada and the leagues are working to keep the federal government apprised of the impacts of a variety of scenarios for players, teams and fans in the wake of the COVID pandemic,” MacKenzie wrote. “There is much to discuss as we don't yet know what public health officials will permit in terms of our players and fans, so we have no firm figures yet. We also are not sure what is going to be allowed in terms of our teams crossing borders. At the end of the day, the safety of our 1,400 players, 3,500 full and part-time employees and thousands of fans across the country is the main priority."

" Every community and team will be impacted differently, depending on what public health authorities permit as a return to play scenario,” he wrote. “The pandemic has had a unique, unforeseen and dramatic effect on every spectator and team sport in this country. Again, our priority is the safety and health of everyone involved with the CHL in the communities where we play. Our teams may need federal assistance to weather the storm this year and to ensure that Canadian major junior hockey can adapt to the new rules and remain an important part of the fabric and economic development of Canadian communities.”

source: TSN

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