SC Stingrays pondering possibility of playoff hockey in July if ECHL season delayed
by Andrew Miller
Jul 1, 2020
Updated Jul 30, 2020
Playoff hockey at the North Charleston Coliseum in July?
It could happen in 2021.
The South Carolina Stingrays could be playing deep into next summer if the ECHL is forced to postpone the start of the 2020 season. ...
The ECHL’s Board of Governors held their annual summer meetings via social media last week to lay the groundwork for what they hope will be a 72-game season. But when the 2020-21 season will start, whether or not there will be a full regular-season schedule, and how many fans will be allowed into buildings across the league are still being finalized. ...
With the NHL set to open training camps on July 10 and resume its season in August, the calendar for the ECHL and the American Hockey League could be pushed back months. The start of a new NHL season could be as late as January 2021. Traditionally the calendars for the NHL, AHL and ECHL are all aligned.
“What the NHL and AHL do will impact us and be a part of the decision, but it’s not the only part of the decision,” (League commissioner Ryan) Crelin said. “I think all options remain on the table. Where we land has yet to be determined, but it’ll be a factor that we are considering.” ...
Delaying the start of the ECHL season, which normally opens in mid-October, has it’s pros and cons, (South Carolina Stingrays president Rob) Concannon said. Opening the season in December means escaping the long shadow of college football and the NFL.
“It could create some scheduling conflicts if we’re playing hockey in June and July, but it also means we’d get away from college football,” Concannon said. “I think every ‘what if’ is on the table. I think, me personally, I don’t have a problem if the season starts in December. For us, the most important thing is having a full 72-game schedule.” ...
Meanwhile, Stingrays head coach Steve Bergin has already gotten a head start on next year’s roster, signing a couple of players. But he admits his sales pitch has been a little different with the virus affecting every decision that’s being made this summer.
“We’re trying to go about it like it’s business as usual, as a typical summer, but obviously there are so many different elements involved,” Bergin said. “There are some guys that are eager to sign that might have waited normally until later in the summer, while there are other guys that might have signed already that are a little reluctant. It’s just a very strange situation.” ...
