The entire remainder of the VISL season has been scrubbed by the board of governors. The irony is the league managed to stage the Jackson Cup last year by delaying it to the summer from its usual late-March date. The season cancellation also comes just as things are opening up again in sports with the Western Hockey League and B.C. Hockey League granted permission to play. “My phones are blowing up,” said Greco. That’s not surprising because the top end of the VISL is highly competitive, having produced World Cup players George Pakos, Jamie Lowery, Ian Bridge and other multi-capped Canadian national team performers such as Brian Robinson, Bob Bolitho and Ike MacKay.
“It’s weird, but so typical of this season,” said Greco. “It at least allowed us to show our sponsors’ banners and give them something for supporting us through all this.” The draw is usually held amid pomp and circumstance at the Strathcona Hotel, something not possible this year due to the health restrictions regarding gatherings. The VISL, however, still needs to be ready to go once sports games are again allowed in B.C., hence the impromptu garage draw. The brackets are set. The dates of the games will be added later. “We don’t even know when we’re going to play in 2021. But you can’t have a tournament unless you have a draw,” said Greco.