Two local Ontario Hockey League (OHL) players are disappointed that the junior hockey season has been cancelled.
The OHL announced on Tuesday it's pulling the plug on the season because of COVID-19.
Kent Bridge native Grayson Ladd of the Windsor Spitfires and Grande Pointe resident Deni Goure of the Owen Sound Attack said they'll now focus on next season.
Ladd said it was too late to get a season in and agrees with the decision.
"It's kind of crappy it had to end that way," said Ladd. "With cases rising right now it's probably the right choice to cancel the season."
Ladd said he has gone over a year without playing because of multiple shoulder surgeries and was hoping to have a big year this year. He said there's nothing he can do about it except buckle down, train hard, and have a big season next season, when he'll be an overage player.
Ladd said the Spitfires will be holding Zoom meetings to determine what the plan is moving forward.
Goure said it's been a tough year waiting to hear if there was going to be a season. He said he was really looking forward to having a good season this year.
"Pretty bummed out for sure that we don't have one [season]," Goure said.
Goure said he'll treat the next few months as an off season and work out and skate as much as he can. He added it's difficult to do anything right now because of the lockdown and he can't wait until the local arenas are reopened. Goure said "it sucks" not having a season. He added the league did everything it could to salvage the year but it just wasn't meant to be.
The Ontario Hockey League expects to have a full season in 2021-2022.