Pats back to practising after COVID-19 pause

The Regina Pats are back on the ice.

The WHL team was able to resume team activities on Saturday after seeing their season paused due to a COVID outbreak a day earlier.

That meant players had to find ways to keep themselves entertained while isolating at their billet’s homes.

“It’s been tough. We had to quarantine our whole team in our rooms and wear a mask inside when we are around our billets and lay low and let COVID play its course for the guys unfortunate enough to get it,” Pats forward and captain Logan Nijhoff said. “I played a good amount of Wii. I played some Wii golf, did quite a bit of reading, stretching and did some workouts and quite a few movies as well.”

Head coach and general manager John Paddock said their team was following all the guidance from health officials. Paddock said compared to what he’s heard of other teams’ outbreaks, the Pats had a fairly low number compared to others.

“We don’t have much of a spread,” Paddock said. “We have availability of testing people pretty quick as a team if there are symptoms.”

Paddock said there was still one player in isolation as of Tuesday but he’s expected to join the team on Wednesday. Paddock said none of the players experienced symptoms.

The Pats currently have seven games postponed due to COVID. Paddock said it’s going to be a challenge for the league to find a way to fit them in in the back half of the season.

“Our schedule was slightly heavy as it was later in the year. We have more (three games in three nights) than we’ve had to date and now I think there’s going to be more three-in-threes or four-in-five for everybody more than expected,” Paddock said.

The Pats are in the middle of pushing for a playoff spot and have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games. Regina currently finds itself in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Swift Current Broncos.

Nijhoff said the pause does stifle the momentum they’ve been trying to build over the past few games.

“Whenever you take six or seven days off mid-season, you’ve got a bit of rust when you come back on the ice. As hard as you work on your own in your basement and whatnot, it’s a different sort of cardio than on the ice and in the cold air,” Nijhoff said.

“It’s frustrating as a hockey player. All you want to do is play hockey and contribute to your team and be on the ice. Having two or three years of having this happen, you just have to take everything the way it is – have a positive attitude and do what you can off the ice and continue to progress as players.”

While the past few seasons seeing cancellations and a bubble environment for players, it’s been an unprecedented few years for junior players trying to develop and get a chance at going pro.

“I don’t think (development will be affected) but I don’t know why I say that. I think the unfortunate things with us is the same for the world. I think there’s a general underestimation of mental health issues in the public when people aren’t allowed to go to school or do other stuff,” Paddock said.

“We’re just like the rest of the people. The players – albeit young – will probably survive any virus they have better but they are just like the rest of the people too as far as progressing in what they do.”

The Pats’ next game is set for Jan. 16 against the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Brandt Centre.

Saskatoon returns to the ice

The Western Hockey League cleared the Saskatoon Blades’ and seven other teams to resume team activities.

The news comes after the Blades had a home-and-home series postponed with the Regina Pats this past weekend.

Saskatoon will play its first game since New Years Day when the team travels to Swift Current on Friday for the start of another home-and-home series with the Broncos.

The Blades will play a home game Saturday evening.

Saskatoon’s postponed games against Regina have yet to be rescheduled.

Minor hockey, school sports see postponements due to COVID

Saskatchewan sports teams have been seeing a number of postponements due to the recent Omicron surge.

Hockey Saskatchewan indicated many games across the province have been postponed due to COVID-19. In a written statement, general manager Kelly McClintock said parents have been understanding and cooperative during this time.

Regina Public Schools have also seen a number of postponements. Teams haven’t been able to field a squad due to a lack of players in some cases.

The Regina High School Athletics Association is monitoring the situation and is proceeding with scheduling accordingly.