The possible return of professional hockey to B.C. if Vancouver is approved as a hub city is unlikely to affect minor hockey in the province, according to association officials.

Premier John Horgan and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry endorsed a proposal to make Vancouver a playoff hub city for the NHL鈥檚 proposed return for playoff hockey in July, leading to questions if hockey at other levels will return sooner than expected.

BC Hockey officials, however, don鈥檛 expect that to happen.

鈥淭otally two separate scenarios, but that would be a question for the Health Authority who are outlining both situations,鈥� BC Hockey鈥檚 Keegan Goodrich said in an email to Black Press Media.

鈥淚鈥檓 sure they have the measures in place should the NHL return to Vancouver (Create the bubble etc.) that aren鈥檛 possible to achieve in Amateur hockey. Comparison of a few hundred people in NHL games to 50,000+ people who play amateur hockey in B.C.鈥�

BC Hockey is following guidelines outlined by viaSport and Hockey Canada, Goodrich noted.

ViaSport鈥檚 guidelines are set by the provincial health authority. Organized sports are expected to return as part of Phase Four of the provincial government鈥檚 Restart Plan, which is conditional upon either wide vaccination, community immunity or broad successful treatments.

Phase Two is currently being implemented.

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