SJHL allowed to resume play 'effective immediately'

The Weyburn Red Wings hold training camp as the team awaits the start of the 2020-2021 SJHL season. (Claire Hanna/CTV News Regina)

REGINA — In a brief statement issued Friday night, the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League says it "has been approved to start play effective immediately."

The league said up to 150 fans will be allowed to attend the games and will be required to wear masks in the arena.

"Teams are scheduling exhibition games to be played between now and Nov. 1," the SJHL stated. "The exhibition schedule will be released to the public as soon as possible."

Regular season games are slated to begin the week of Nov. 2 but attendance for those games is yet to be determined.

Teams have been allowed to hold training camps in anticipation of the eventual start since September, but as of early October a start date had still not been determined for the 2020-21 season.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League began exhibition games Oct. 9 while the Manitoba Junior Hockey League began its regular season the same day.

The upcoming exhibition games will mark the first time two SJHL teams have faced off since the league suspended its playoffs in March due to COVID-19 concerns, eventually leading to the cancellation of the 2019-20 postseason.