91原创 91原创 are fielding an all-Canadian roster of players as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淲e just thought that was the right thing to do,鈥� explained 91原创 head coach and general manager , who noted other teams in the BC Hockey League (BCHL) are fielding American players.

鈥淣ormally, we would be allowed to have six [U.S. players on the roster].鈥�

Henderson said there were concerns about potential problems that could be created if a U.S. player turned out to have COVID-19.

Opting for only Canadian talent also means the 91原创 team doesn鈥檛 have find as many billets for out-of-town players, something that is proving to be a headache for other teams in the BCHL.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got two kids from Ontario, and they鈥檝e got billets,鈥� Henderson noted.

Surrey Eagles billet co-ordinator, Jim Turton told Black Press Media some players on that team were still without permanent places to stay.

He reported some families that have served as billets in the past have declined this year because of COVID-19 concerns and a desire to keep their social bubbles as small as possible, and some have less space in their home than they had previously, with spare bedrooms serving as home offices.

READ ALSO: BCHL team in 鈥榙esperate鈥� need of billet families for upcoming hockey season

Going all-Canadian means the two American players who were on the 91原创 roster are now playing south of the border; forwards Sean Bunting, from Phoenix, Arizona, and Hunter McCoy, from Newburyport, MA.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e playing in the North American league [south of the border],鈥� Henderson reported.

READ ALSO: 91原创 91原创 force exhibition game into overtime before 2-1 loss

91原创 have been playing exhibition games to prepare for the tentative start of the 2020-21 regular season on Dec. 1.

A Sunday, Oct. 24 game against the Surrey Eagles was called off after a Surrey player tested positive for COVID-19.

BCHL said the athlete was placed in a 14-day quarantine and all other players and team personnel have been tested.

dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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