Lethbridge’s Year in Sports: The impacts of the pandemic were felt when competition returned to ‘normal’ in 2021 – Lethbridge | The Canadian News

For nearly two years, young athletes have weathered competition disruption due to COVID-19, and as sports returned to normal in 2021, the impacts were felt in a variety of ways.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes had something in the first half of the year that not many teams in many sports can say they had: They had a season.

The 24-game schedule against the other four Alberta-based teams in the Western Hockey League (WHL) began in late February, with the ‘Canes going 9-12-3 in empty arenas.

Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt says the season came at a considerable cost and that WHL teams were willing to pay for it simply for player development.

“It’s hard to weigh it if you hadn’t played,” Anholt said when asked if the season was worth it.

“What would the ramifications have been for the Western League if we hadn’t played? I think there have been some ramifications for [Ontario Hockey League] – because they didn’t play – I think there have been some long-term ramifications for them. We haven’t seen much of that side. “

The Edmonton Oil Kings were the central division title winners for the modified season, but that was based only on the 24-game regular-season schedule, with no playoffs.

As fall approached, the WHL made it clear that the league was determined to have a season that more closely represents pre-pandemic times; going back to a full 68-game schedule, albeit with the eastern and western conferences playing exclusively within their conference, and plans for the 2021-22 season to include the playoffs.

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Throughout nearly three months of that near-normal season, Anholt says the break with significant competition in the past two years has been evident on the ice in many ways.

“I think some of the young players have a misconception about how difficult our league is, and they are opening their eyes this year,” Anholt said. “I think they thought, ‘Wow, this is the Western League, this is not that difficult,’ and I think even some of the elite players are seeing that it is much more difficult than what they experienced last year.”

“I think it caught them a little off guard.”

For post-secondary athletes at Lethbridge, it was a longer break from competition, as well as full intensity training.

The Kodiaks athletes at Lethbridge College were delighted to be back in training this summer and fall, but athletic and recreation services manager Todd Caughlin says the comeback came with a few more bumps and bruises than usual.

“Obviously I haven’t been in shape for the last two years, a lot more injuries this year, so thank goodness for our athletic therapy services,” Caughlin laughed.

Caughlin says that when the Kodiaks got going this fall, he noticed greater parity among schools at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), prompting some surprises and schools exceeding his previous standards.

He says a lot of that has come down to recruiting challenges and some athletes choose to take time out.

“A lot of the athletes just took the opportunity to say, ‘Well, you know what? I’m going to wait, I’m going to work, make some money, come back and get the full season. ‘ Because maybe it’s their last year of eligibility, maybe it’s their second, so they made that decision and we obviously respect that, ”Caughlin said.

“You just compete with what you recruited and you fight, and I think a lot of teams are in the same position.”

ACAC and Canada West eligibility was unaffected by the 2020-21 school year, in which athletes could practice within their team bubble, but not much else.

The omitted year means post-secondary teams have a double dose of rookies this year; Berrendos athletic director Neil Langevin says freshmen who started at the University of Lethbridge last year got a taste of the student-athlete life that may have made the transition easier this fall.

“In a sense it might have been kind of good, you know you get your feet wet at school,” Langevin said. “The pressure of being a freshman student and athlete is really immense.

Apollo Hess is one of those Pronghorns athletes who started at U of L last year. The swimmer says that while he’s grateful to be able to train, nothing beats real competition.

“It’s definitely been nice learning to run,” Hess said.

“After a while, you forget what it’s like to race, so definitely being in a racing environment and being able to compete against some of the best people in Canada is definitely good.”

Despite missing a full year of racing, Hess hasn’t missed a beat. The 19-year-old dominated the Western Canada Championship at the University of British Columbia in November, winning five medals, including a pair of golds, and the men’s swimmer competition and men’s rookie competition titles.

Post-secondary athletes have been off for the holidays, but will return to 2022 action in January.

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