B.C. premier had 'wide-ranging' call with NHL about possibly hosting games

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B.C. Premier John Horgan shed some light on his conversation with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after the two talked late Tuesday about the possibility of the province hosting NHL games if this season resumes.

"We had a wide-ranging discussion about our desire in British Columbia to support the NHL and the Vancouver Canucks - who have been initiating these discussions with government - to see if we could put in place a framework where the NHL could use Vancouver as a hub city in part of the many plans that are floating around out there ... about the Pacific Division having a hub," Horgan told the assembled media, including CBC, at a news conference Wednesday.

The premier said the league knows the province has handled the coronavirus pandemic relatively well, but also acknowledged hosting games wouldn't come without further challenges.

"Mr. Bettman and his team recognize that British Columbia has had a pretty positive response to COVID-19 in terms of flattening the curve," he added. "Mr. Bettman also knows that this is a hockey-crazy province (that) would be happy to have hockey take place here so that we could see current games on our televisions, but there are obstacles, obviously, in the way.

"(A) 14-day isolation period would be required effective today," Horgan continued. "Where we are in two weeks, three weeks, (or) four weeks is up to (provincial health officer) Dr. (Bonnie) Henry and how she feels we're doing at managing the curve as we restart the economy. But Mr. Bettman was well aware of that, as are the NHL Players Association representatives, who are focused on making sure the players are safe, and of course the NHL's concerned about players and the communities they operate in."

The premier also said he's listened to ideas from others, including a scenario in which B.C. would host all of the NHL games upon returning, citing the many WHL facilities across the province that could help facilitate that.

Also present on Tuesday's call was NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and Lisa Beare, B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, who is also responsible for sport in the province.

The Canucks were reportedly one of multiple teams that submitted bids to the NHL to serve as a hub for games. Earlier this month, Dr. Henry said there are ways B.C. could do so safely.

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