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The Windsor Spitfires’ return to Ontario Hockey League play was called off once again on Wednesday.
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Last Wednesday, in a statement, the OHL reaffirmed its commitment to continue the 2021-22 season on the day the new provincial restrictions due to COVID-19 were implemented.
As such, the Spitfires had the team bus packed up and ready to head to Guelph to face the Storm when, for the fifth time in seven days, the club canceled it.
“We had a morning skating and planned to play normally,” said Spitfires head coach Marc Savard. “We were waiting for the bus and they warned us around 1:15 (pm) when we were about to leave.”
There is some confusion in the reason. Spitfires General Manager Bill Bowler said there were no COVID-19 issues with his team’s game, but the OHL announced later that day that the game was one of seven that had been postponed by COVID protocols. -19.
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Two other Guelph games this week were also postponed, but reports from Guelph state that the problem for Wednesday’s game with the Spitfires was due to city officials being aware of the restrictions that applied to the Storm. .
“I heard it had something to do with arenas and protocols,” Savard said.
Windsor was originally scheduled to play at Saginaw on Wednesday, but that game was postponed and the Guelph game, which had been postponed on December 30, was put in its place.
With Wednesday’s postponement, Windsor will now have to make up those games with Guelph and Saginaw along with a December 31 game against Flint and a January 2 game with Sarnia. The OHL announced 21 rescheduled games on Wednesday, but none involved the Spitfires.
The Spitfires, who have not played since Dec. 28, will try again on Thursday. The club will practice and then depart for Sault Ste. Marie will play the Greyhounds on Friday and Saturday with no fans in the stands.
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Reference-windsorstar.com