AHL cancels remainder of the 2019-20 season, playoffs due to COVID-19
By Mary Clarke
The AHL has officially cancelled the rest of the 2019-20 season and the Calder Cup Playoffs with no end in sight to the current coronavirus pandemic.
Another domino has fallen in the hockey world thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, the AHL announced the cancellation of the remainder of the 2019-20 season, plus the Calder Cup Playoffs, due to concerns over the public health crisis.
The announcement comes after the league’s Board of Governors voted in favor of the decision, on which American Hockey League President and Chief Executive Officer David Andrews stated via a press release:
"After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21."
With the cancellation of the 2019-20 season, the AHL has stated that the final standings will be sorted by points percentage as of March 12, and “will serve as the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season.”
The news should not come as a surprise, given the uncertainty surrounding the NHL’s return to play and the state of the pandemic as a whole. Back in March, the Canadian Hockey League — which is made up of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) — cancelled their season.
The AHL’s focus on the 2020-21 season makes more sense in the long-run than attempting to complete the current season at an unknown date. However, with the cancellation of the AHL season, NHL rosters (should their season resume) will likely expand to accommodate any injuries that occur once play resumes.
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