THUNDER BAY – Less is more when it comes to Ontario University Athletics team sports in 2021-22.
Expect the Thunderwolves men's and women's varsity squads to player fewer games against few opponents this coming season, an effort to navigate safely through the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic and get student athletes back into action after the 2020-21 campaign was cancelled outright.
While university sports have not been given the go-ahead to play under Ontario's return to play action, Warden said the OUA is a little more complicated, offering nearly 50 different sports. Other leagues given the go-ahead earlier this month, including the NHL, CFL and OHL, have a more singular focus.
Earlier this week the OUA announced it's yet-to-be-approved plan that would cut the hockey season down from 28 games to 20, the basketball season from 22 games to 16 and volleyball from 19 games to 14.
Hockey moves to a two-division set-up, down from four, while basketball drops to two divisions as well.
Tom Warden, athletic director at Lakehead University, said the Thunderwolves will likely play in divisions with Toronto area teams to help minimize travel, given Thunder Bay's remoteness from much of the rest of the OUA.
The plan is encouraging, Warden said.
“There's a bit more of a regional approach when it comes to scheduling and there will be some cost savings and minimizing contacts between teams and things like that, but at the end of the day, sports are coming back and I think that's so important for our student athletes, it's so important for our community and it's so important for everybody to be back in sport.”
Warden said the impact on Thunderwolves teams will depend on the sport.
“Regional is something that really doesn't affect us because of our geography. But regionally speaking, we will probably play in the one hub and play teams in that area,” said Warden, who sat on the committee trying to help the OUA sort through its return-to-play document. “It's likely we'll have Toronto-based teams in our conferences and in our divisions.”
The OUA is expected to provide more details about divisional set-up and which teams will play where in early July.
The league does plan to hold its championships, the goal being to send teams and athletes to compete for a national title in their various sports.
For individual sports, it may mean single-day championships where possible.
Nothing, however, will be written in stone, Warden said.
“There is the ability to shift and pivot, to use an overused term,” he said. “But I think the priorities are with Ontario championships and national championships and those will be worked into the formula, regardless.”
Warden said the hope is that fans will be allowed in the stands to watch.
Under the current framework, it would be minimal, but most sports won't be back in action before September, giving time for the COVID restrictions to be loosened as more people are vaccinated and case counts continue to decline.
“We need our fans back. We need everybody to understand that and we need a good, comprehensive schedule for Ontario and national championships.”
Warden said the schedules will be made with the understanding they may have to change or be pushed back depending on circumstances and local public health rules.
