THUNDER BAY – Minor hockey in Thunder Bay and the rest of Northwestern Ontario is going to have a decidedly different look this season.
But the good news is it’s looking more and more likely players will be back on the ice in some form of meaningful competition by mid-October.
On Thursday, Hockey Northwestern Ontario unveiled its return-to-play framework, which followed guidelines set out by the province and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
Among the changes slated are the removal of intentional contact at all levels of play, strict sanitization and entry and exit protocols at the rink.
Teams will also have to play in 50-player bubbles, which could mean fewer teams or smaller rosters, depending how the various minor hockey organizations in the region choose to set up their leagues. Parents will also have to get used to the idea of not always being able to watch their young hockey players play in person, as only a small number of non-participants will be allowed in each facility at a given time.
Tournament play is also off the table for the time being, at least until the province and public health officials give the OK.
It’s going to take some getting used to, said HNO executive director Alex Vaillant, but at least minor hockey can move forward in 2020-21.
“We’re going to do what we can to transition through stages,” Vaillant said on Friday. “Ultimately our end goal is back to traditional hockey and normalcy. But the No. 1 priority first and foremost is safety. We’ll be doing what we can, working with the health units keeping everyone safe.”
Vaillant said on average, about 4,500 youngsters take part in organized ice hockey each year. While he does expect those numbers will drop this season, given the trepidation and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s optimistic and excited to at least be able to give kids the chance to play – something they haven’t been able to do since mid-March when hockey stopped across Canada.
At the moment, HNO is in Stage 2 of its plan to return to the ice.
In Stage 1, individual in-person and group virtual training resumed. The second stage allowed in-person training to take place, including on-ice hockey camps.
Under the framework, for a month starting on Sept. 14, individual team formation will be allowed, which could include tryouts. Practices, focusing solely on skill development will also be permitted. The informal competition stage is tentatively set to begin on Oct. 14.
Stage 4, the return to traditional hockey, won’t happen until the province gives the thumbs up.
“We’re super excited. The key thing is the mental health of our participants, the physical health of all our participants. March 12 was the day that hockey shut down and since that day we’ve been looking forward to the day where people could get back on the ice,” said Vaillant, who spent two seasons playing with the Thunder Bay North Stars between 2012 and 2014.
“Now that we have a framework in place, and barring any setbacks, we’re set to return. It’s undoubtedly exciting for everybody.”
