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)

There are five games on tap this weekend in the MMFHL, as four of the six teams will play twice, while two teams are only in action for a single game.

First off, let's take a look at the actual schedule, then get into previewing the particular matchups.

Saturday:

3pm, West Hants Sports Complex, Windsor - EDZA West Reds at Halifax Western Capitals (streamed on YouTube through Maritime Athletic Profiles)

4pm, Hector Arena, Pictou - Bussey Auto Brokers Penguins at Northern Subway Selects (streamed on 3sixty.live through Petter Pictou Sports)

7pm, Membertou Sports and Wellness Centre, Membertou - EDZA East Moncton Subaru Rockets at Cape Breton Lynx (streamed through the Lynx Facebook Page)

Sunday:

11am, Membertou Sports and Wellness Centre, Membertou - EDZA East Moncton Subaru Rockets at Cape Breton Lynx (streamed through the Lynx Facebook Page)

12pm, RBC Centre, Rink C, Dartmouth - EDZA West Reds at Bussey Auto Brokers Penguins (streamed through Penguins Facebook Page)

Season series for this weekend's matchups:

Reds vs Western Capitals - 3rd meeting, Reds lead 2-0

Penguins vs Selects -5th meeting, Selects lead 3-1

Rockets vs Lynx - 1st and 2nd meetings

Reds vs Penguins - 1st meeting

Streaks coming into the weekend (and record over last five games):

Selects - 3W (4-1-0)

Reds - 3W (4-1-0)

Penguins - 1W (3-1-1)

Western Capitals - 1L (1-3-1)

Lynx - 2L (2-3-0)

Rockets - 3L (1-4-0)

Following our consultations with Nova Scotia Public Health and Nova Scotia Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang, we have been advised that fully-vaccinated teams can now travel to New Brunswick for sporting events provided that the event (game, tournament, etc.) they are attending has a requirement for both spectators and participants to show proof of vaccination (POV).

Teams with unvaccinated players under 12 are not permitted to travel to tournaments in New Brunswick where a circuit breaker is in place. Please visit the Government of New Brunswick website to find up-to-date information about what areas of the province are currently under circuit breaker restrictions. 

While travelling to New Brunswick for competition, all local COVID-19 protocols and Public Health orders must be followed. Our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tina Atkinson would also like to strongly encourage all of our teams and hockey families to follow these guidelines to further decrease the risk of a COVID-19 exposure:

• Wear masks at all times while indoors (only removing them for eating, drinking and playing hockey).
• Always wear masks while in crowded outdoor spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
• Avoid crowded restaurants (and only visit restaurants where servers are masked).
• Wash and sanitize hands frequently.
• Avoid close contact with people you don’t know.
• Consider shopping for essential items only.

We would also like to remind you all to follow the Rebound Plan 2.0 and keep a close eye on exposure notices from the province.

If you have been holding off on securing tickets or a weekend pass for the PWHPA Weekend Dream Gap Showcase as you wait for the league schedule to be posted, you are now free to do so.

To make sure everyone has the opportunity to take in the first professional women’s hockey games to be hosted in Atlantic Canada there will be no league games scheduled during the PWHPA Weekend Dream Gap Showcase. This will allow players, parents or teams who wish to attend this event, to do so without worrying about the team schedule.

Dream Gap Showcase Tickets (single games, single day, full weekend)

Links to special group offer of 25 tickets to Female Hockey Associations.

GAME 1 Calgary VS Boston

GAME 2 Montreal VS Toronto

GAME 3 Consolation Game

GAME 4: Championship Game

If there are specific requests from any teams that will not be attending the PWHPA Weekend Dream Gap Showcase, please contact your Scheduler and Regional Director.  If there are other teams available that weekend, we will look into scheduling on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on the Dream Gap Showcase click here.