The Boston Bruins remain hopeful about getting a chance to see this season through for a chance to hoist hockey’s greatest prize, but the same unfortunately can’t be said for those further down the prospect pipeline.
The American Hockey League announced Monday morning that the remainder of the 2019-20 season, including the Calder Cup playoffs, has been canceled due to the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement from the AHL read:
“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions.
The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season.
We are very grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months.
The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”
The league added that both its
standings — sorted by points percentage – and statistics as of March 12, 2020, are considered final and official. As such, they will serve as the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season.
For the Bruins’ AHL affiliate down in Providence, Monday’s news comes as an expected result — but one that isn’t any easier to accept, given the run the Baby B’s were on when the season came to a halt.
Providence finishes the season with a record of 38-18-6 — leading all Eastern Conference clubs with 82 points and in the midst of a 12-0-1 run through the middle of March.
Jay
Leach
Jack Studnicka, Dan Vladar, Trent Frederic, Urho Vaakanainen
Eddie Shore
“This is what I’ve been told — that if we get the green light, the players will have a few days to kind of get into the facilities, work out a little bit, maybe get on the ice on their own,” Cam Neely said of a potential plan for the NHL's return. "And then they’re talking about a potential three-week training camp, maybe a little less, for the players to really get themselves into the best of game condition they can. ... So because of the pause and what’s happening with the American Hockey League, we are going to be able to have more players around, like our Black Aces, if you will. So we’ll see how the schedule really plays out before we really can decide what we’re going to do with rest and recovery.”
Bruce Cassidy
Zach Senyshyn, Jakub Zboril, Paul Carey, Brendan Gaunce
If you are going right into playoffs would you want two teams to scrimmage? I would think most teams would want some level of live competition more against their own group than an exhibition game. That, to me, would be a huge risk.”
Charlie McAvoy
Don Sweeney
"Yes, 100 percent,” Sweeney said.
“We feel that some guys that have earned that opportunity to be a part of this mix and what injection they can have and what impact they can have, I do believe will get some determination between now and the end of the year.”
Ondrej Kase
Nick Ritchie
