Earlier today (February 26th), the province announced that tighter restrictions will return this weekend in areas of Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and some neighbouring municipalities.
These restrictions are returning in areas of HRM up to and including Porters Lake, as well as the communities of Enfield, Elmsdale, Mount Uniacke and Hubbards effective 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 26, with an extension possible.
- sports events, special events, arts and culture events and festivals are not permitted
- sports practices and training and arts and culture rehearsals can have 25 people without physical distancing but there can be no games, competitions, tournaments or in-person performances and there can be no spectators
Nova Scotians are also being asked to avoid all non-essential travel within the province and elsewhere, especially to and from the restricted areas of HRM, Hants and Lunenburg counties.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR HOCKEY?
What HRM associations do these restrictions apply to?
Today’s new restrictions apply to the following hockey associations based in the affected HRM area:
Metro East Inferno Female Hockey Association, Metro West Force Female Hockey Association, Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association, Dartmouth Whalers Minor Hockey Association, East Hants Minor Hockey Association, Cole Harbour Bel Ayr Minor Hockey Association, Bedford and District Minor Hockey Association, Sackville Minor Hockey Association, Eastern Shore Minor Hockey Association, TASA Minor Hockey Association, and the Chebucto Minor Hockey Association.
No games, only practices
Teams from these association are not permitted to play games while these restrictions are in effect. While these restrictions are in effect, these
teams will be allowed to
practice only.
These practices are limited to the coaches, team staff (trainer, team safety rep, manager, dressing room monitor, etc.) and the players on
the official team roster registered with Hockey Nova Scotia. This group is limited to
25 people.
It is up to each team to determine who will be in this group of 25. It is strongly recommended that this group remains consistent while these restrictions are in effect.
Groups that are larger than 25 (ex: a U7 team or two teams that share ice time) will need to adjust to meet these new restrictions.
We want to be clear: Teams in the restricted areas are allowed to
practice only.
This means that:
- Games are not permitted
- Scrimmages between two separate teams within an association are not permitted; however, a Hockey Nova Scotia-registered team can scrimmage during a practice (ex: 3 vs 3, 4 vs 4, etc.)
- Specialty clinics are not permitted
- Non-rostered specialty coaches are not permitted to take part in these team practices
- Ice time is not to be shared between two different teams
Players and coaches who live in the HRM restricted zone are permitted to play or coach with their teams outside of the restricted zone as long as this is where they have played all season (ex: players who live in Mount Uniacke can play in West Hants). Players outside HRM restricted areas can come into HRM to practice with their team they have played with all season as long as they do not go anywhere else in the restricted zone except the facility.
Teams are reminded that guidelines and rules may vary at each facility. As in the past, your team safety reps and league/association safety reps should confirm these guidelines (ex: hours of operation, when their team should enter the facility for practice, etc.) with the facilities that their teams will practice at.
What does this mean for spectators in the affected area of HRM?
Spectators are
not permitted in the facility while these restrictions are in place.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR TEAMS OUTSIDE THE AFFECTED AREA OF HRM?
The new restrictions present challenges for our leagues, councils, and other scheduling bodies.
They are doing their best to find ways to keep our players playing safely. We must be patient and understanding as they work together to navigate these challenges. The adjustments based on the new restrictions will be communicated by the applicable leagues, councils, and schedule bodies to the members as soon as possible.
Stay tuned for scheduling updates from your league’s scheduling bodies that will detail how this may or may not impact your team.
LET’S CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER
Our goals – and the goal of the
Rebound Plan – has and continues to be to keep as many players playing safely as possible.
We must continue to show leadership and follow the guidelines of the
Rebound Plan and Public Health.
Be safe. Get asymptomatic testing. Stay home if you’re unwell.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Yours in Hockey,
Amy Walsh
Executive Director
Hockey Nova Scotia
Arnie Farrell
President
Hockey Nova Scotia
Garreth MacDonald
Communications & Special Events Director
Hockey Nova Scotia
259 Commodore Drive
Dartmouth, NS, B3B 0M1
902.454.9400
hockeynovascotia.ca
Email
Print
