DPH pauses ice hockey due to COVID concerns
By Jay Turner
Teams will have to wait at least a few weeks to experience the newly rebuilt Metropolis Rink. (Moira Sweetland photo)
Due to rising cases of COVID-19 connected to indoor ice hockey, the state Department of Public Health issued a new order on Friday prohibiting indoor ice rinks and ice skating facilities from operating from October 23 to November 7. As a result of the order, all youth ice hockey organizations, including Canton Youth Hockey, have temporarily suspended operations.
The DPH order is in response to multiple COVID-19 clusters occurring at rinks throughout the state following games, practices and tournaments. Neighboring states including New Hampshire have enacted similar temporary restrictions regarding indoor ice hockey.
There have been at least 30 clusters of COVID-19 associated with organized ice hockey activities involving residents from more than 60 municipalities in Massachusetts. Each of these includes two or more confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, totaling 108 confirmed cases.
This pause, according to the DPH, will allow for the development of stronger COVID-19 protocols to further protect players, families, coaches, arena staff and other participants, as well as communities surrounding hockey rinks.
At the Canton Board of Health meeting on October 26, health officials met with local hockey leaders to discuss COVID-related concerns as well as new protocols aimed at preventing the spread of the disease while also keeping kids on the ice.
Among the measures up for consideration are mandatory mask wearing at all times; sharing of detailed rosters (including telephone numbers) with the Canton Health Department; detailed record keeping of all visitors to ice rink facilities; social distancing for players/coaches on ice rink benches; and a prohibition on joint team drills. Additionally, the BOH has asked that practices be limited to team members only and that the time between games/practices be increased to 20 minutes.
Health officials are also asking league personnel to encourage their players to make smart choices and to discourage activities such as carpooling, team dinners and congregating in large groups.
A formal policy is being drafted and will be up for review and a potential vote at the next BOH meeting on Monday, November 2.
BOH Chairperson Julie Goodman said that local health officials are committed to working with hockey and other sports organizations to ensure compliance of all protocols and regulations. At the same time, Goodman said the board is prepared to enforce these measures and will consider everything from fines to team suspensions to facility closures in the event of violations.
“The idea is we want to work with people,” she said, “but if it comes to [issuing penalties] we will do it, because we’re really committed to stopping the spread of COVID.”
The current DPH ice rink order applies to all indoor ice rinks and ice skating facilities in Massachusetts and remains in effect until 12:01 a.m. on November 7, unless “duly extended or rescinded” by the DPH commissioner. Collegiate and professional programs are exempt from this order.
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Posted by Jay Turner
on Oct 30 2020. Filed under Sports, Youth Sports.
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