When 2,608 fans filed out of Mosaic Place last March 10th after a 6-0 Moose Jaw Warriors loss to the Saskatoon Blades, they had little to no idea they’d be the last fans at a Warriors game in over a year.

But that’s the scenario facing the Western Hockey League, as health regulations and recommendations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have pressed the pause button on hockey. Warriors general manager Alan Millar said they aren't likely to have any fans in the building, but the league is committed to having a season.

“We’re looking at a time frame to get started, sometime in mid-late February (to) early March hopefully,” Millar said. “Each jurisdiction will be different, I think in terms of when they start up. But hopefully, we can put this together, play a 24-game regular season, and then have some kind of unique playoff format within each division. That’s where we’re at and we’ll continue to work with health authorities and what our players returning to Moose Jaw and what the start of the season looks like.”

Millar said the league has been committed all year to offer a season to the players.

“We think that’s really important to try and put something together,” he said. “We understand and respect our work with the provincial government and the health authorities. We understand we have to do things with health and safety at the forefront. But at the same time, I know our ownership and G.M.s in the league felt it was important to have an opportunity for our players to develop.”

Millar said they’re moving forward with no fans, but are working with health authorities.

“We certainly understand that things may change as we go along, and maybe if we get into April and May and we continue to play, there might be an opportunity to get fans in the building,” he said. “But we’re moving forward with the understanding there will be no fans.”

Millar said their work with health authorities is related to their own cohort, which includes staff, players and billets, and the league’s protocols.

“We’re focused on playing as many games as we can for the development of our players with the understanding that we may play the majority or all of this abbreviated season with no fans.”

When they do play, Millar speculates that they won’t likely have much in the way of player movement.

“You’re not going to be moving players from Canada to the U.S. and vice versa,” he said. “We’re going to have to adhere to quarantine periods with players going back from certain provinces to certain provinces.

“An example like that is you made a trade with a team in B.C., and a player’s got to go there and quarantine for 14 days in a shortened season, that may not make sense for the teams. I think when you look at the fact where you’re playing a season for development, I’m not sure the wins and losses are going to really matter too, too much in the big picture, so you’re not going to have your traditional buyers and sellers potentially. Obviously, things could change..., but those are the things you have to take in consideration.”

Millar said a lot of teams will have younger rosters in preparation for the 2021-2022 season.

As for the players from out of the country, which include forwards Martin Lang and Martin Rysavy from the Czech Republic and goaltender Brock Gould from the United States, Millar believes those players will face significant hurdles to play here this season. He said if there is a season but Gould isn’t able to come up, they may make a deal with an American team to play in the shortened season.

Players like defencemen Daemon Hunt and Nolan Jones and forward Calder Anderson were among several Warriors who were loaned played a few games in Junior A before their seasons were also paused. Millar said if those leagues are up and going before the WHL is able to start, they would take it on a case by case basis.

“There’s quarantine situations that you need to be on top of,” he said. “If we felt there was a length of time that they could continue in junior A, and then join our team, we would certainly consider it. But at this point, we’re focused on all our players continuing to do what they can to get ready for a season and get into Moose Jaw when the time is right.”