The Kamloops Broncos junior football club won’t be having a season this year.

The Canadian Junior Football League has announced this morning that it has cancelled the 2020 regular season and playoffs.

Broncos general manager Jan Antons tells NL News the decision was made last night, in a conference call between board members.

He says with the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions in place that vary by province and bringing in players from across the country, it’s too complicated to try and safely hold games.

“Really what got us is the different gathering sizes across the country. In B.C. it’s 50, and as you know a football team has a minimum roster of 50 people. So really, to get around that number would be very difficult. For many teams, and the CJFL, the health and safety of the players is the number-one priority,” Antons says.

“The Broncos were actually the only team in the Canadian Junior Football League who actually had approval for return to play at this point. I think that says a lot about the organization and the work that has gone in. I’m sure some of the other teams would’ve gotten approval as well. But like I said, it’s really about health and safety and that’s what it came down to.”

Antons says teams can still hold practices and workouts, and he says the Broncos intend to do so.

The CJFL has 17 teams spread across the B.C. Football Conference, the Prairie Football Conference and the Ontario Football Conference.

League commissioner Jim Pankovich says this decision is disappointing but indicates it was necessary because of the ongoing risk of the COVID-19 pandemic for players, coaches and other team members.

Pankovich says teams “will continue to engage with their players and communities,” and says the league looks forward to returning in 2021.