The Western Hockey League is pushing back the start of its season indefinitely due to uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league says it is not in a position to start the season as planned on Jan. 8 due to current public health restrictions across Western Canada and in the Pacific Northwest United States.

In a statement, the league says after further consultation with regional health authorities, the Board of Governors will meet next month to determine when the league could get a season underway.

“We continue to make every effort to get our season started, but our first priority has always been the health and safety of our players, and everyone associated with the WHL,” WHL Commissioner Ron Robison said, in a statement.

“Given the public health restrictions that are currently in effect, we are not in a position to determine a new target date for our season. We will continue to consult with health authorities to determine when it is safe and responsible to get our season started.”

Robison says when the season does get underway, the WHL will be using a series of protocols it has developed to protect players, staff, officials, and fans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league was initially hoping to start a season on Dec. 4, before that was delayed to Jan. 8 in the middle of October.

At that time, the league said all of its regular season games will happen within the confines of the division, meaning the Kamloops Blazers would only be playing against the Kelowna Rockets, the Vancouver Giants, the Victoria Royals, and the Prince George Cougars.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was the only one of the three Canadian major junior leagues to begin play as scheduled in October, before a series of outbreaks among teams forced it to postpone games and create a bubble in Quebec City, before play was halted.

The Ontario Hockey League plans to begin its season in early February.

– With files from The Canadian Press