American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson has announced that the league’s Board of Governors has approved moving the anticipated start date of the 2020-21 season to February 5, 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.

This is a move from a December 5, 2020 start date which looked optimistic at the time it was proposed.

Just what the AHL might look like next season is up for much debate.
AHL President and CEO Scott Howson said: “everything’s on the table” when it comes to divisional alignment, formats and how many games are played.

He went on to add “This gives us the best chance to have a significant season with fans in the building and we’ll just see what happens here in the next two months. We’re going to be flexible and we’re going to do everything we can to play.”

Remaining flexible and thinking way outside the box is the remit at this stage with so much uncertainty and problems concerning borders high on the agenda.

The AHL’s return-to-play task force will meet again in the coming days to construct some scheduling proposals, including a range of games played.

“It’s going to be a heavy regional schedule no matter what we do, so the teams that are close to each other are going to play each other more often,” Howson said. “Just being a little more cognizant of what the virus is doing and how can we combat that with our scheduling.”

With the NHL aiming for a January 1st start and the possibility of a Canadian Division being formed, that leaves the AHL in a bit of a quandary.
Canadian NHL teams Edmonton and Calgary have affiliates in America (Bakersfield and Stockton), whilst Vancouver’s affiliate is based in Utica, New York.

Is it even feasible to think those affiliations could be relocated to accommodate call-ups to the NHL?
It’s just one of the logistical nightmares facing Howson and the return to play taskforce with border-crossings just one of many issues.

The American Hockey League could even return without having a full complement of teams competing with many organisations unable to take to the ice without the prospect of paying patrons in the stand.

The ECHL plans to start its season on December. 11, 2020, with 13 of 26 teams participating right away and the remainder in January, 2021. ECHL teams in Atlanta, Georgia and Norfolk, Virginia, voluntarily opted out of this season.

“I think all our teams want to play, but nobody knows what’s going to happen,” said Howson who intimated the AHL could opt for a similar roadmap as the ECHL.

The Syracuse Crunch are one of the AHL’s independent teams and their owner Howard Dolgon summed up the situation perfectly: “Anyone claiming they know how this will end, you don’t want to buy anything from them.”