For the first time since 1989, there will be no Opening Night face-off in September to signify the start of another Napanee Raiders Junior C hockey season.
Not to be forgotten are the Deseronto Bulldogs, who were looking to build on the momentum of the triumphant return of competitive hockey to Deseronto last year.
Of course, the Raiders and Bulldogs aren’t the only hockey teams who are sitting idle at the moment, forced to wait from word from the higher ups as to when fans can safely re-enter an arena amid COVID-19 safety protocols. As with all junior hockey teams, they operate on razor thin budgets and will face major obstacles even when hockey resumes. Fans are missing out too as win or lose, hockey in small rural towns represent an opportunity for the community to shiver next to one another in the stands and catch up with old friends. Anything that gets people out of the house in the middle of winter is always a good thing.
Canada’s national pastime as a whole has been altered at all levels. In a typical year, fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs would be keeping a close eye on training camp this time of year, dreaming this could be the season they finally put it all together and clinch their first Stanley Cup since 1967. Instead the playoffs are still going on in mid September in empty stadiums in Toronto and Edmonton. The Leafs of course were bounced in the first round, doing their part to provide a bit of consistency and familiarity to this strange year known as 2020. In fact every Canadian team has already been bounced from the playoff bubble, meaning that although the timing might be different, we Canadians can still carry on the tradition of watching our own born and bred players lead a U.S.-based team to the most coveted trophy in our nation’s history. Maybe this year isn’t so different after all.
Tired old jokes aside, there will be a noticeable void this winter without competitive puck being played in frozen barns across the land. There still remains hope of a December start for junior hockey leagues, but that is hardly a sure thing at this point. Fortunately local minor clubs such as the Stars and Crunch are going to make the most of the situation and run skills and drills and maybe even some scrimmage matches.
Napanee’s other on-ice passion, the Napanee District Skating Club, is also running programs this year meaning the SPC won’t sit completely empty like so many arenas across Ontario. While it too will look a lot different, at the very least young athletes will have the opportunity to partake in the sport they love, whether it be at a competitive level or simply for fun. Anything that represents a positive step, or skate, towards returning to normal is worth celebrating. Ideally it won’t be too long before we can all cheer together and commemorate a part of our Canadian identity and make the most of our coldest months.
-Adam Prudhomme