The last we heard, the Tri City Americans were eyeing a 24 game schedule, against only US Division teams, with hopefully a February beginning--but no date set. No other official information has been released.

Part of that rationale is the border largely remaining closed between the US and Canada, with a few exceptions, due to COVID.

That would mean the Tri City Americans would only face Portland, Everett, Seattle and Spokane.

Now, Friday Jan.29 the WHL (Western Hockey League) has announced the five WHL teams in Alberta will be allowed to play each other starting Feb. 26th.

The Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Calgary Hitmen will form the Central Division, and will play a 24 game schedule. The rest of the schedule will be released at a later date, but the start date is on the calendar.

According to the release from the WHL, by way of the Tri City Americans;

"WHL players and staff from Alberta-based Clubs will begin self-quarantining on Saturday, January 30 and then will report to their WHL Club on Saturday, February 6, where they will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing upon arrival followed by an additional quarantine period. Pre-season on-ice training for the Central Division teams will open on Friday, February 12 at the earliest."

With Washington and Oregon mired in their respective Phases, there's no clear direction as to what is going to happen with the WHL and other related sports. King, Pierce and Snohomish County were allowed to move to Phase 2 starting Monday, which will affect the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips, but the TC Ams and Spokane Chiefs are still in Phase 1 regions.

Similarly, the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference has announced Whitworth University, Pacific Lutheran University, and the University of Puget Sound will be playing each other twice in February as the Conference attempts to salvage it's 2020 college football season.

The five Oregon schools, Linfield, Lewis-Clark, George Fox, Willammete, and Pacific University, will not participate because Oregon is still under it's 'State of Emergency' per Gov. Brown through March 1.

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