Saskatchewan Hockey Association reacts to restrictions being lifted

There appears to be a path opening up for kids and others in the province to return to the ice for hockey.

But the general manager of the Saskatchewan Hockey Association says things won’t be like they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We all want hockey basically to return and no issues but we know it’s not going to be the same thing. How do we have social distancing in dressing rooms and on a bench? Can parents be allowed in to watch games? Will (players) have to come to the games (in full equipment)?” Kelly McClintock told the Green Zone on Thursday.

“We might look at restricting travel for tournaments and I think people might even do that anyways because of hotels and meals and being around a lot more people. You might see a three-on-three type of format if we get into games and less kids on the ice at a time, maybe less ice time a week per player.”

Hockey Canada announced Thursday that it is lifting its ban on sanctioned hockey activities across the country. Many leagues’ seasons ended early and without year-end tournaments due to the pandemic.

“There’s a set of guidelines that (Hockey Canada) distributed about health and safety that have to be followed,” McClintock said. “Also you have to follow whatever reopening plan is in each provincial government and health authority.

“Hockey isn’t going to be completely open here right away. It’s going to follow whatever the plan is for the provincial government and health authority as well.”

While the path is being cleared, McClintock anticipates it could be September before the SHA is able to provide programming.

“People that offer hockey schools and those kinds of things and they get their own insurance, that’s all up to them and that will all depend on whether you’re in a private facility that has gyms and an ice surface and falls under the Phase 3 reopening on Monday or whenever Phase 4 comes open and municipalities want to open up their facilities,” McClintock said.

There are currently discussions between the 13 branches of Hockey Canada about what the upcoming seasons could look like across the country, with McClintock noting things could look different in every province depending on the COVID-19 situation.

Right now, many of the guidelines cover things like disinfecting dressing rooms, and players bringing their own water bottles and other equipment. McClintock said the plan is to have one representative from each team with which the SHA works who will relay information as it becomes available.

“Let’s be patient,” McClintock said. “We could put in a ton of things now in our province and in two weeks we could throw them out and start all over again.”