Canucks postpone 2020 Young Stars Classic

The Vancouver Canucks have postponed their 2020 Young Stars Classic due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

The event, a round-robin tournament with top prospects from the Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, was scheduled to take place Sept. 11-15 in Penticton, British Columbia.

It is the second prospect tournament to be cancelled this week by coronavirus concerns, after the Detroit Red Wings announced on Monday the cancellation of the 2020 NHL Prospect Tournament held annually at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, Michigan.

The Da Beauty League, an offseason 4-on-4 league in Edina, Minnesota, for NHL players, prospects and college players who live or are from the Minnesota area, also announced Thursday that its 2020 season would be postponed indefinitely.

The NHL paused its season March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. Phase 2 of the NHL Return to Play Plan began on June 8, with small groups allowed to work out in team facilities under strict safety protocols. Phase 3, the start of training camps, is expected to begin July 10.

Phase 4 will see 24 teams competing for the Stanley Cup, with 12 from each conference playing in a hub city, including the Canucks, Flames, Oilers and Jets. The tournament will begin with the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, which will include 16 teams playing eight best-of-5 series and a round-robin among the top four teams in each conference to determine seeds for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A start date and hub cities have yet to be announced.