Photo: Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press file photo

It all started on Friday afternoon when Ontario’s Minister of Sport, Lisa MacLeod, stated that the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) would not allow bodychecking this coming season. The statement caught many in the hockey world off guard and left others simply puzzled.

Macleod said that removing purposeful physical contact from the game was a necessary step to preventing the spread of COVID-19. She said the decision was influenced by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, which had several COVID-19 outbreaks on its teams earlier this fall.

Our public health officials have been clear – prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports is not permitted. We will continue to work with @OHLHockey on a safe return to play. https://t.co/GO4BitTa0K pic.twitter.com/gKcnFDXHMh

— Lisa MacLeod (@MacLeodLisa) October 30, 2020

Many in the hockey world were confused by the statement, but more importantly, most wondered how exactly the ruling would be implemented. Can you regulate physical contact in the game of hockey? What about face offs? What about battling for pucks in the corner?

Later that afternoon, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that his sources believed that no decision had been formally reached regarding the removal of bodychecking in the OHL, thus contradicting Macleod’s prior statement.

Sources say there has been no official decision on removing bodychecking from the OHL. There has been a number of discussions between the league and the provincial government. Talks and negotiations are ongoing.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 30, 2020

It took MacLeod all of 12 minutes to rebut Dreger’s statement.

This is not correct. While we are working with the league on a safe return to play we are not “negotiating” on public safety measures prescribed by the Health Table. https://t.co/79URfJTYpa

— Lisa MacLeod (@MacLeodLisa) October 30, 2020

MacLeod also issued her own statement on Twitter less than an hour later, reaffirming her stance on the topic.

Also this is correct. This isn’t @ExploreON, it is a health decision. I trust this matter is now settled. https://t.co/b8slHUBNic

— Lisa MacLeod (@MacLeodLisa) October 30, 2020

So it sounded like that was it. There would be no bodychecking in the OHL this upcoming season. Period.

Not so fast.

On Saturday night the Ontario Premier got in on the Twitter action, stating that he would like to see the OHL return as normal as possible, with bodychecking included.

We are engaging with the @OHLHockey to create a safe return to play plan, which will need to be approved by health experts. To date no decisions have been made. I would like to see the OHL return as normal as possible with body checking.

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 1, 2020

So where do we stand? Unfortunately, we stand where we do so often, between flexing politicians hurling statements back and forth on Twitter, with nothing really being resolved. Has anything been decided? Nope.

If I’m the Capitals, I’m on the phone to Sweden looking for a spot for Connor McMichael and Martin Hugo Has to play. They are the two Capitals prospects currently assigned to play in the OHL.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if and how the OHL implements and regulates the ruling. Stay tuned.

In other (more concrete) news, the OHL announced on Thursday that February 4 will be the new start date for the 2020-21 season. Training camps will begin on January 23rd and the season will be shortened to 40 games. European and American players will arrive by January 8 to quarantine and begin preparations for the season.

By Jon Sorensen