Ontario’s Sports Minister Lisa MacLeod has confirmed the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) will not allow bodychecking during the new season.

According to a report by the Associated Press, MacLeod said barring the physical contact was key for all sports in the area to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Ontario has recorded 76,707 coronavirus cases and more than 3,000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

"Not just in the OHL, not just in hockey in general, but in all sports,'' said MacLeod about banning bodychecking.

"We're in a very serious game right now and the reality is we have to take those public health precautions."

The OHL announced on October 26 that it planned to start a shortened 2020-2021 campaign on February 4.

It is the last of Canada's three major junior leagues to release a schedule.

"Until such time as we arrive at an agreed upon return to play protocol with the Government of Ontario, the league will have no further comment on the matter of body contact," a statement from OHL read.

The Western Hockey League is looking to resume its season on January 8, while the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League campaign started last month.

The OHL is made up of 20 teams split into four regions with players aged from 16 to 21.