Plenty of junior hockey players have been held off the ice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week the Ontario Hockey League announced it was canceling its season because of the current number of COVID cases in the province.

Players from the OHL and other junior leagues are now using Erie as the center to host a hockey showcase to allow players the opportunity to get scouted by personnel from multiple professional leagues. 

The junior hockey showcase will be held at the ErieBank Sports Park on Oliver Road in Summit Township. Play will begin Monday, May 31st, and continue until Sunday, June 13.

"The main focus of this tournament is to get as many guys who maybe didn't have their last year in junior to come out and showcase their talents in front of high-end scouts and find an opportunity they may have missed out on," said Brendan Hoffman, forward for the Erie Otters.

Players will travel to Erie and stay in a hotel and undergo COVID protocols daily while playing in the showcase. 

Former NHL players along with scouts from the NHL and other leagues are expected to attend to get a look at players eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft and other players who missed their final year of junior hockey

"It definitely going to be a lot of people, and a lot of high-end people in the hockey community," said Hoffman. "If anything, it's going to show Erie, it's not a small hockey community at all, is got something to grow for."

The event was organized by junior hockey players including members of the Erie Otters. The showcase is a non-profit event funded by charitable organizations and people across North America.

The showcase will follow junior hockey rules, with officials for each game. 

ErieBank Sports Park officials are currently working with local leaders to determine the number of people it can host for the event. General manager of the sports park Brian Ramm said this event will be beneficial for multiple reasons

"Bringing this event and having these guys here, Erie has always been a great hockey town, its had hockey all the way back as long as I have been here," said Ramm. "It's something that I think will help rejuvenate hockey and create quite a buzz.

Organizers said that any money left over will be given back to the Erie community or to a medical partner in some way to help support the community.