On Tuesday, Dec. 21, the province announced new gathering limit restrictions across Nova Scotia that will significantly impact hockey. To read the complete announcement from the province, please click here.

Updated Dec 23 with clarification regarding the current restrictions limiting sport and recreation to groups of 10.

The following restrictions are effective at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 and will remain in place until at least Jan. 12, 2022:

• only virtual events are allowed – there are no in-person events such as festivals, social events, special events (including receptions), sports games or tournaments, or arts and culture performances
• a limit of 10 participants indoors and 25 outdoors applies to sports practices and training; physical distance is not required, and masks are recommended when possible indoors and outdoors; spectators are not allowed
• Nova Scotia children ages 11 and younger continue to be restricted from participating in sports and arts and culture events outside the province

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR HOCKEY

Today’s announcement will greatly impact our teams, associations, and leagues over the next few weeks. As of tomorrow morning, the following will take effect:

• Games and tournaments are not permitted
• A maximum of 10 participants (including coaches and instructors) will be permitted in the field of play for practices and training; physical distancing is not required during these sessions, but masks are required everywhere in the facility but on the ice
  • The province has provided the following clarification regarding the current restrictions limiting sport and recreation to groups of 10: more than one cohort of 10 is allowed as long the cohorts are distanced from each other the entire time. There can be no intermingling of cohorts so the space would have to allow for distancing between cohorts, staggered entry into the facility and onto the field of play, separate change rooms, etc.
  • This means that effective immediately, a team could practice in separate groups of up to 10 (including coaches and instructors) on the ice at the same time, but you would need to ensure that the groups (including coaches and instructors) are completely separated from the time they arrive at the facility until the time they leave. Players could not switch groups (ex: players are not permitted to spend half a practice with one group and then spend the other half with the other group) during the practice. You would also need to ensure that you have enough space to be able to do so at all times in the facility and on the field of play.
• Spectators will be not be permitted at any activities
• Travel restrictions remain in effect that prohibit children age 11 and younger from entering or leaving Nova Scotia to participate in sports

We understand the past week, like the past two years, has been challenging. We appreciate all of your efforts to keep our players on the ice during these very difficult times. We will pass along any updates to you as soon as we have them.

We hope you all stay healthy and safe during this holiday season.

Selects having another great year.

Click the image or link below to read the full article.

The News - New Glasgow

The players on the Bussey Auto Brokers Penguins had an idea to give back to the community and raise $50 each on their own without it coming from the Parents or their own pay cheques. They all had some great ideas: bottle drives, cleaning cars, selling chocolates, selling gift cards and making beautiful Christmas wreaths. We had planned to raise $900 but the girls took this challenge to a whole new level and raised over $2000, amazing!!
 
They adopted a family of four and a family of two and proceeded to go shopping. They were split into groups, given a budget and a child to buy for and off they went. Here are the end results plus $350 of gift certificates for each family.
 

There are so many life lessons to learn when playing any given sport but giving back to people in need takes it to another level and as Parents and coaches there are not enough words to express how proud we are of these amazing young athletes!
 
A big thank you to Jessy's pizza Main street Dartmouth and Coca-Cola for supplying pizza/beverages to ensuring the girls have enough energy to wrap all the presents.
 
Merry Christmas,
 
Pens

With COVID-19 case numbers on the rise in Nova Scotia, the province announced today that restrictions on physical distancing and gathering limits are returning over the next few weeks.

Starting at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, and lasting until at least the new year, the following restrictions impacting hockey will be in place:

• spectators are limited to 50 per cent of a facility’s capacity; spectator limits are also capped at a maximum of 150 people
• a limit of 60 participants indoors and outdoors applies to sports practices, games, and regular league play; physical distancing is not required
• tournaments are not allowed
• children age 11 and younger continue to be restricted from entering Nova Scotia to participate in sports and are also restricted from participating in them outside Nova Scotia

There are also new recommendations for close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases, including those who are fully-vaccinated. We detail those below.

REGULAR LEAGUE PLAY

We have clarified with Public Health that regular league play refers to the current league that your team is playing in. This includes provincial leagues.

MASKS

On the ice, masks are not required during practices, training sessions, and games. Off the ice, masks are required everywhere (especially in the dressing room).

It is extremely important that you continue to wear your mask when you are not on the ice.

Please note that coaches and instructors who work with more than one group must wear a mask at all times while inside the facility (including while on the ice).

CLOSE CONTACTS

As a result of the recent outbreak in Nova Scotia, all close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases, including those who are fully-vaccinated, now need to isolate until they have a negative result from a lab-based (PCR) test. The lab test should be performed at least 72 hours after the exposure.

In a hockey context, if two teams play a game within 48 hours of a positive exposure involving a player or coach on either team (meaning a player or coach on one of the teams tests positive for COVID-19 within 48 hours of the game), both teams (as well as the officials) would be considered close contacts. We recognize this is not spelled out clearly on the Public Health website but we have worked with Public Health to determine that this is what they mean.

Due to increased testing and rising positive cases, we are aware that Public Health may be delayed when it comes to reaching out to close contacts. We have seen examples of hockey associations and teams being proactive and abundantly cautious in terms of pausing activities after potential exposures. We commend these groups for prioritizing the safety of their members and wider communities.

For more information on what to do if you are a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, please click here.

If you have any questions about any of this or about a potential exposure, we encourage you to continue to follow the communication flow in the Rebound Plan 2.0

To help curb the spread of COVID-19, Public Health is also strongly recommending regular rapid testing for all Nova Scotians. Learn more here.

Dr. Strang will be meeting with the sport sector tomorrow. We will take part in those discussions and will pass along any updates that come out of that meeting.

For now, please continue to be vigilant. It is vital that we do not become complacent. Please continue to wear your mask in the dressing room and everywhere else in the arena when you are not on the ice. Wash your hands often. Do not come to the rink if you are feeling unwell. Follow the Rebound Plan 2.0.

Are you a female interested in officiating hockey? Hockey Nova Scotia’s is offering an on- and off-ice Officiating Clinic on Saturday, November 13th at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre in Truro. This clinic will set you up for success to begin officiating THIS SEASON. Details below. For more information about the session please contact Brittany Myers at brittanyoneill9@gmail.com.

Register Now: https://forms.gle/q1WdsnJUPaVAeFRd9

WHEN: Saturday, November 13th
WHERE: Rath Eastlink Community Centre, Truro
WHO: Any female interested in officiating (11yr +)
WHAT: On-ice Session 11:00am-12:20pm followed by a Classroom Session 1:00pm-2:30pm
COST: $35 for the session which includes an Acme Referee Whistle. If interested in registering as a Level 1 Official for this season, the registration fee will be $112 ($25 for Hockey University, $87 registration fee)