2020–21 WHL season
The 2020–21 WHL season was the 55th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The season began on February 26 and ended on May 12.
| 2020–21 WHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Sport | Hockey |
| Duration | February 26, 2021 – May 12, 2021 |
| Number of teams | 22 |
| TV partner(s) | KRCW-TV KZJO Sportsnet |
| Finals champions | None |
| 2020–21 CHL seasons | |
|---|---|
| League | Canadian Hockey League |
| Sport | Hockey |
| Duration | OHL Did not play QMJHL October 2020–June 2021 WHL February–May 2021 |
| Number of teams | 60 |
| TV partner(s) | TVA Sports Rogers Sportsnet Rogers TV Shaw TV |
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a late start, the season was shortened from 68 to 24 games, and the WHL officially termed the season as a "developmental season". Teams played within their respective divisions only: the Central Division consisted exclusively of Alberta-based teams, the U.S. Division played exclusively in Washington state, all B.C.-based teams played from either Sandman Centre or Prospera Place in Kamloops and Kelowna, British Columbia, and all East Division games were played at Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan.
In Alberta due to protocols agreed upon by the league, a five-day period was required between games involving different opponents. Therefore, all Central Division games were scheduled as home-and-home series on weekends only, and thus no team was scheduled to play more than one opponent per-week.
On April 19, citing logistical issues and interprovincial travel restrictions, and following the cancellation of the 2021 Memorial Cup, the WHL announced that it had cancelled the playoffs. Therefore, no league champion was declared for the second season in a row.