2020-21 MJHL Season

This is the 2020-21 Manitoba Junior Hockey League Season, the League's 104th season.
=Return to Play=
On June 4, a statement on behalf of Hockey Canada was issued, from Tom Renney, chief executive officer, and Scott Smith, president and chief operating officer, on the return-to-hockey process in Canada. “On March 12, the decision was made to cancel all Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities across the country. This was a difficult decision, but one made to maintain the health and safety of all participants and the general public amid growing concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Currently there are no Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities being conducted, and we are working with our Members on their return-to-hockey plans. After ongoing discussions with the board of directors, our chief medical officer, the 13 Members and public health authorities across the country, it has been determined that the best approach for a return to hockey in Canada is to allow each Member the opportunity to work with authorities in their respective regions to determine when it is safe to return to the ice in areas that fall under their jurisdiction. We expect the timing of each Member’s return to hockey will be different, but will be based on the advice of their government and public health authority.
It is imperative to note that we are not ready to return to the game across the country. As we have seen in respect to flattening the curve, the impact of the pandemic varies from region to region. Permitting our Members the opportunity to decide on an appropriate return-to-hockey timeline will allow them to work directly with public health authorities to determine when it is safe to return while also implementing specific safety measures and rules within their associations and leagues.
Hockey Canada knows the game will look quite different, and the return will happen at different speeds and at different times across the country. Be assured, we continue to work on our multi-faceted return-to-hockey plan that includes health and safety regulations, communications and seasonal structure. As with so many people across the country, we look forward to returning to the game when it is safe to do so, and we will support our 13 Members as we continue to work towards getting back on the ice.”
For more information on the Return to Hockey plan, please visit HockeyCanada.ca/returntohockey.
“This is an exciting and important first step on the way back to sanctioned hockey activity returning to the province of Manitoba,” MJHL Director of Operations, Kevin Saurette shared. “We are working very closely with the Provincial Health Authorities and Hockey Manitoba to ensure a safe return to play proposal is put in place for everyone involved.”
“We look forward to MJHL Hockey returning to the province this fall as we continue to plan for the upcoming 2020/21 MJHL season slated to start towards the end of September,” Saurette concluded.
On June 26, the MJHL was approved to return to sanctioned summer activities. With Manitoba easing restrictions and allowing indoor and outdoor sporting organized activities to operate again in a cautious approach, the MJHL has prepared Return to Play Guidelines (RTP) using a phased in approach. In preparing for the MJHL RTP Guidelines, the MJHL has worked in coordination with Hockey Canada, Hockey Manitoba, Sport Manitoba and the necessary Provincial Health Authorities. We are excited to officially announce that the MJHL Return to Play – Phase I Guidelines have been approved by the Provincial Health Authorities. MJHL Return To Play PHASE II Guidelines will be presented in the coming days which will include a full plan for return to hockey in September. Our targeted start date for the 2020-21 Season is Friday, September 25th. The health and safety for everyone involved is the number one priority.
The League public released the complete and approved "MJHL Return to Play Guidelines" on August 19 and the schedule on September 10.
=MJHL Roundtable Webinar=
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is excited to announce its first ever MJHL Roundtable Webinar Series set for June 22-24.
Moderated by well renowned broadcaster, speaker and emcee, Leah Hextall, the MJHL’s goal of the webinar series is to provide the hockey community with valuable information and insight through informative discussion, stories and advice involving accomplished athletes, coaches, professionals and role models. The guests include current & former Olympians, current NHL players & coaches along with presentations from experts in Mental Health, Physical Literacy and Social Media.
Session 1 | Women’s Hockey
Guest Panel: Cassie Campbell-Pascall – Brigette Lacquette – Marie-Philip Poulin
All three women have been instrumental in helping grow the women’s game in Canada. The opening session will feature great stories, grassroots development talk, and a discussion on the state of the women’s game.
Session 2 | Mental Health
Guest Panel: Corey Hirsch & Theo Fleury
Two former NHL/Olympic athletes who now find themselves as mental health advocates will share their personal stories while providing insight on how to help conquer mental health struggles.
Session 3 | Player/Coach Dynamic
Guest Panel: Barry Trotz – Ryan Pulock
Two Manitoba born members of the New York Islanders will share stories, discuss their player-coach relationship, and talk about what’s required to make it to the next level.
Session 4 | Physical Literacy/Performance
Guest Panel: Dr. Dean Kriellaars
World renowned doctor, Dean Kriellaars, whose teaching fields include exercise & physical activity, biomechanics and neuromuscular control will share valuable information with a specific focus on physical performance.
Session 5 | Social Media
Guest Panel: Dan Marrazza
Emmy award winning social media specialist, Dan Marrazza will provide a vast range of knowledge from the world of multimedia, including tips on how teams can collaborate with hockey ops to build out the internal infrastructure of a social media department. A must watch for any social media enthusiast.
Session 6 | Coaches Prospective
Guest Panel: Paul Maurice & Sheldon Keefe
Two Head Coaches from Canadian markets in the National Hockey League will cap off the Roundtable Series with a coach focused discussion. Topics will include what coaches are looking for at the next level along with other tips and advice that will help young players along their hockey journey.
=League Notes=
Commissioner Kevin Saurette
*MJHL Draft held online utilizing RinkNet Live Draft Centre technology provided by HockeyTech on April 26.
*League schedules Prospect Development Camp for July 23rd to 25th at the Seven Oaks Arena.
*Canadian Junior Hockey League appoints outgoing MJHL Commissioner Kim Davis as Life Member.
*After 18 years as Commissioner of the MJHL, Kim Davis officially punched the clock one last time on June 30 to make way for incoming Commissioner Kevin Saurette, who served as the MJHL’s Director of Operations for the past four seasons.
*League limits the number of 20-year-olds a team can register to six.
*League renames the Rookie of the Year award to the Kim Davis Trophy.
*League entered into a new 5-year agreement agreement with HockeyTech, the worldwide leader in providing hockey-related technologies, analytics, and information services.
*League has instituted a mandatory Team Personnel Code of Conduct which identifies the standard of behaviour which is expected of all MJHL Team Personnel. 
*Hockey Canada cancels 2020 World Junior A Challenge.
*League awards 50 Below Sports + Entertainment an expansion franchise for 2020-21 season, team was named Winnipeg Freeze.
*League scheduled 240 games, 40 per team. Three divisions of 4 teams. Each team will play the other teams within their division eight times, and the teams outside their division twice. Regular Season to start October 9.
*League unveils new mobile app powered by HockeyTech.
*League announces partnership with The Coaches Site.
*League continues partnership with Headcheck Health.
*League announces new partnership with Bodylogix.
*League continues partnership with Canadian Mental Health Association Talk Today program.
*League announces playoff format. Standings to be based off Winning Percentage. All Teams make playoffs. First two rounds divisional format. The three division winners advance to semi-final. The fourth semi-finalist is a Wild Card Team from a two game single loss elimination involving the three divisional runners-up. The semi-final winners advance to the Turnbull Cup Final.
*League named Leah Hextall MJHL Brand Ambassador.
*League partners with Pan Am Concussion Program.
*League launches apparel webstore.
*On November 2, Hockey Manitoba announced that all teams and individuals (players, staff, & officials) residing in the Winnipeg Metro Region are ineligible to participate in hockey programming effective immediately. Teams involved Selkirk and both from Winnipeg.
*On November 9, teams (3) in Southern Health Region were shut down, on November 12 League announced a pause until 2021.
*On February 12, League cancelled the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.
*League announced that the annual MJHL Draft will move from a U16 Draft (Bantam Draft) to a U17 Draft, therefor no 2021 Draft.
=Regular Season=
{| BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" width="100%"
|- bgcolor="#F30F30" align="center" cancelled</center>
=Community Ambassador Team=
{| BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" width="60%"
|- bgcolor="#F30F30" align="center" see 2020 World Junior A Challenge</center>
=In Season Awards=
Stars of the Week	Players of the Month
=Awards=
{| BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" width="100%"
|- bgcolor="#F30F30" align="center" see 2020-21 MJHL Alumni News</center>
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Category:Manitoba Junior Hockey League seasons
Category:2021 in hockey