The Western Lacrosse Association will play a shortened 2021 season starting June 23.
As well, the Mann Cup national championship is tentatively scheduled to commence Sept. 10 in Ontario.
WLA commissioner Paul Dal Monte announced the 12-game campaign on Wednesday.
Teams normally play 18 games beginning earlier in June.
Dal Monte admitted things could change further depending on the course of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and various public health restrictions on activities like public gatherings and events.
“We will be carefully following all applicable public health orders and best practices as we move forward toward the 2021 season,” Dal Monte said in a statement.
While the league’s announcement didn’t address whether spectators would be allowed into games, Dal Monte recently told the Tri-City News that option wouldn’t be viable as teams rely on ticket revenue to help cover their annual expenses that he estimated can approach $100,000 annually.
He said even if fans can attend, teams will still be challenged to win their confidence they can do so safely.
“Across the sporting landscape, there will be a period of time where fans will have some reluctance.”
The league’s first-scheduled regular season game since July 27, 2019, will be between the Coquitlam Adanacs and Langley Thunder on June 23 at the Langley Events Centre.
The Adanacs play its first home game at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex three days later, against the Burnaby Lakers.
