Recorder & Times Staff
The upcoming regular season is to open on Thursday, Sept. 23, about two weeks later than usual. The Brockville Braves are to get their 2021-2022 drive started at home against the Ottawa Jr. Senators on Friday, Sept. 24. In what was the final CCHL game before the pandemic and only playoff tilt in the league two seasons ago, Brockville defeated Ottawa at the Memorial Centre in March 2020.
Each CCHL team will play 55 games – five against each of the other 11 – in the upcoming regular season compared to 62 in 2019-2020. The top eight CCHL squads will advance to the playoffs.
The Braves’ final home game before the post-season is planned for March 18 against Nepean. CCHL playoffs are scheduled to open March 24.
Like Brockville, the Kemptville 73’s and Smiths Falls Bears are also slated to open the season at home on Sept. 24. Kemptville will host Pembroke, and Smiths Falls will take on Renfrew (the former Kanata franchise).
The CCHL reported no COVID outbreaks during 2020-2021.
As for fans in the stands come September, Step Three of Ontario’s current COVID reopening plan is slated to take effect on Friday. Under Step Three, indoor sports facilities with designated areas for spectators are limited to 50 per cent of capacity or 1,000 persons, whichever is less. Braves’ home attendance averaged about 390 in 2019-2020.
