Team re-scheduling seven postponed Western Conference games in March and April
By Pat Payton
With any luck and if all the stars align, St. Marys Lincolns expect to resume their GOJHL regular schedule on Feb. 3.
Games were played up to Dec. 23, and then the 25-team provincial Jr. ‘B’ league was forced to postpone all but two of its games in January due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
With the Ontario government easing restrictions, the GOJHL has announced it will hit the ice again starting Jan. 31. The league says there will be an official announcement sometime this week.
Lincs’ first game next month is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3 in Sarnia against the Legionnaires at 7:10 p.m. Lincolns host Strathroy Rockets the following night at the PRC at 7:30 p.m.
Showcase officially cancelled
Lincs were scheduled to play six Western Conference games in January, plus games against Stratford and Welland at the GOJHL Showcase (Jan. 21-23) in Pelham. The annual Showcase has now been officially cancelled this season, says St. Marys club president Brandon Boyd. However, Lincolns are re-scheduling all six of their postponed January games in March and early April, plus a Dec. 17 home game against London that was also called off when three members of the Nationals tested positive for Covid.
If things go as planned, and there isn’t another lockdown, all GOJHL teams should complete a 48-game regular schedule before playoffs start in April. “I think everybody is anxious to get back going again,” Lincs’ Director of Hockey Operations/GM Greg Smale told the Independent.
Lincolns (17-10–0-0) currently sit in a tie for fourth place in the West, but they are only four points behind the two teams (London and Leamington) who are tied for top spot. Lincs haven’t played a regular-season game since Dec. 19.
Lincolns are scheduled to play nine games in February, five at home and four on the road. They play Strathroy, Sarnia, Chatham, St. Thomas and LaSalle at the PRC, and have away games in Sarnia, Strathroy, Leamington and LaSalle.
