What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
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Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
Like the Bedford Road Invitational Tournament before it, the Luther Invitational Tournament has been cancelled for a second straight year.
The prestigious high school basketball tournament, which first was held in 1953, was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19. The 2022 edition of LIT, which was scheduled for Feb. 3-5, was cancelled Thursday for the same reason.
Luther principal Dr. Mark Anderson made the announcement in a post on the Regina high school’s website.
“We believe, because of the continuing COVID pandemic, and the Omicron variant, our employees, students and community are best served by cancelling LIT this year,” Anderson wrote.
“The province’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. (Saqib) Shahab, is of the opinion that this Omicron wave should peak in the next four to six weeks and abate around the six- to eight-week point. He also commented that while large-scale athletic and cultural school events aren’t currently prohibited by the government, he still strongly advises that we not hold any over the next two months.”
Anderson wrote that the school considered a number of alternatives before making the decision to cancel the tournament for senior boys and senior girls teams. However, he did note there is “a very remote chance” the tournament could be held in late March or early April.
If it isn’t, one of the fixtures of Regina’s sports scene will be missing for a second straight year.
“This is especially a big loss for our Grade 12s, our LIT advisors and tournament director, and our senior basketball teams …,” Anderson said. “LIT is near and dear to all our hearts, and the entire Luther community, but these people are especially invested, having spent the last few months already preparing for LIT 2022.”