QMJHL announces extension of league’s holiday break; schedule to resume Jan. 17

Those looking forward to the resumption of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s season are going to have to wait a bit longer.

The QMJHL announced on Thursday that the league will be extending its holiday break. Players will now report back to their teams no later than Jan. 14, with the league planning to resume its schedule on Jan. 17.

⚠️ The #QMJHL's regular season schedule will resume in the week of January 17, with postponed games to be rescheduled at a later date.

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) December 30, 2021

The decision was made amid the increase of positive tests for the Omicron variant of COVID-19 across Quebec and the rest of Eastern Canada, although the QMJHL cited teach of the following three reasons as having influence on the league’s decision.

The QMJHL says its goals are to:

1. Create a safe environment for players and staff;
2. Support and facilitate their return to school;
3. Allow them to practice and work out.

The QMJHL has been on its holiday break since Dec. 18. No dates have been announced to makeup games that have already been postponed.

In addition to the health and safety of its players, the QMJHL is also operating with the knowledge that the league will have to contend with attendance restrictions when its season resumes.

Earlier this week, the NHL announced the postponement of nine games that were scheduled to be played in Canadian arenas between Dec. 31 and Jan. 10, due to attendance restrictions.

This came after the Canadiens’ most recent game on Dec. 16 was played without any fans in attendance at Bell Centre. The Canadiens already have their next four home games postponed as well and aren’t schedule to play in Montreal again until Jan. 15.