Shahab said talks with WHL ‘ongoing’ about bubble in Regina

Talks are continuing about a hub for the Dub.

Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer said Tuesday “discussions are ongoing” between the province’s health officials and the WHL — a.k.a. the Dub — about Regina becoming a hub city for the East Division during an abbreviated 2021 season.

“Obviously, major sports have already happened successfully through effective isolation of players from teams from each other except during play and from teams from the surrounding communities,” Dr. Saqib Shahab said during a conference call. “That model has been shown to be successful in a limited fashion across Canada and that same model is being explored by the WHL.

“We have given our recommendations to the WHL for a hub approach and we are awaiting their confirmation of the same.”

The NHL and the NBA each used a hub city — or a “bubble” — to complete their 2020-21 seasons.

The 2019-20 WHL season was stopped in March due to COVID-19 and then cancelled outright. The league was hoping to start the 2020-21 season on time, but COVID regulations across Western Canada and the northwestern United States forced the WHL to delay the start of the campaign.

On Jan. 8, the WHL announced it was committed to the season and said each team would play a 24-game regular season.

Under the league’s plan, its five Saskatchewan teams (Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades and Swift Current Broncos) would be joined by the two Manitoba entries (Brandon Wheat Kings and Winnipeg Ice) to form the East Division.

Last Wednesday, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek tweeted he had heard a bubble was to be formed for those teams in Regina — a tweet that generated plenty of interest.

The Manitoba and Saskatchewan teams would only play each other during the season.

The same would apply to the five Alberta-based teams in the Central Division (Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers and Red Deer Rebels), the five clubs in the B.C. Division (Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Rockets, Prince George Cougars, Vancouver Giants and Victoria Royals) and the five teams in the U.S. Division (Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans).

Health officials in all of those provinces and states would have to give their approval for the WHL season to begin.