THUNDER BAY – Hockey Northwestern Ontario has a plan to get players back onto the ice and into competition – but still doesn't have dates as the province continues to navigate through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the governing body's Return to Play Framework, released on Wednesday, hockey will return in four stages.
Hockey activities will start to happen in Phase 2, with the caution from HNO that if things take a turn for the worse from a health-care perspective, it could be paused at any time.
Stage 1 of the second phase would mark the return of individual in-person training and group virtual training, while Stage 2 would allow small groups to train. Stage 3 would allow informal programming to take place, including tryout or evaluation camps.
Spectators would also be permitted at this time, provided their numbers don't exceed public health guidelines at that time.
Tournaments and travel permits to out-of-town tournaments will not yet be granted for teams, with the exception of high-performance teams, including junior and AAA clubs travelling for league play.
Stage 4 of the second phase would include the return to traditional hockey, with the caveat that in order to reach this level, it would have to be in compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act.
Phase 3 of the plan includes a recruitment drive to return hockey numbers to pre-pandemic levels and the return of events like tournaments across HNO's territory.
The plan also includes a section on facilities and encourages local hockey associations to begin discussions with municipalities and/or organizations that run rinks in their communities to discuss the availability of ice time, costs and ensure the facilities' safety procedures are properly communicated to players, parents, coaches and staff.
The document provides guidelines on entering the arena, encourages mask wearing except during hockey activities and requires coaching staff to be prepared to ask any player or coach exhibiting signs of sickness to leave.
Practices should be adapted to include social-distancing measures and food and drink should not be shared between players. Marked water bottles will be required for each player and pre-game and post-game handshakes are not permitted.
For teams allowed to travel, bus use is discouraged but if one must be used, physical distancing must be possible and players and staff must disinfect their seats before occupying them.
HNO also announced it will be hiring a chief medical officer to consult with teams on pandemic protocols, worth with the organization on risk management and research issues and act as a liaison with Hockey Canada's chief medical officer of health.
Each team will be required to appoint a COVID-19 contact person.
The full document can be found here.
