With the current restrictions impacting hockey remaining in effect until at least the end of the month, we wanted to pass along some additional information that our associations, leagues, and teams may find helpful during these challenging times.

Public Health guidelines for positive cases and close contacts

If a member of your team tests positive for COVID-19, that individual must follow the steps laid out here by Public Health.

After a positive test, a team safety rep (or team manager) should be contacted to inform the team of the positive case. Those who have been in contact with the player (i.e.: exposed to COVID-19) would be considered close contacts. Public Health’s recommendations for close contacts can be found here and must be followed. The instructions can vary by age, vaccination status, and whether or not you have recently recovered from COVID-19.

Again, please familiarize yourself with this close contacts resource from Public Health.

Testing/Rapid Tests

Testing: Anyone seeking testing must first complete an online assessment to determine whether they need a test and which type. If testing is recommended, they must book an appointment. Testing for the purposes of returning to activity/play is not a valid reason to access a test.

For information on testing, please click here.

Rapid Tests: Rapid tests can be picked up at various pop-up locations across the province, which are set up as walk-ins and do not require the same pre-screening. Accessing rapid tests to supply to entire teams will not be possible.

A list of sites operating weekly can be found here: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus/covid-19-rapid-testing                                                                           

Hockey Nova Scotia Dressing Room Supervision Policy (Two-Deep Rule)

We realize that the current restrictions have posed challenges for teams trying to adhere to our dressing room supervision policy. We have been in touch with our colleagues at the province to express these concerns. As a result of these conversations, we have received approval to allow a safety rep (or similarly qualified individual who meets the requirements of the policy) to serve as a dressing room supervisor prior to the start of practice.

These individuals should minimize the time spent in the dressing room/field of play area, remain physically-distanced (at least six feet apart) from participants and coaches, and wear a mask at all times. The individual serving in this role should remain as consistent as possible from session to session.

Association and league safety reps should contact their local facilities to inform them of the additional person in the field of play.

Groups of 10

Associations, leagues and teams are reminded that more than one (1) group of 10 is allowed on the ice during a practice as long as the cohorts are distanced from each other the entire time. There can be no mixing of cohorts during the session. The ice surface would have to allow for distancing between the cohorts. Groups should also use staggered entry into the facility and onto the field of play, separate change rooms, etc.

Again, we want to stress that coaches and players cannot switch groups during the on-ice session.

While it will not always be possible, groups should aim to remain as consistent as possible from one practice to the next.

Provincial Member Call reminder

Our next provincial member call will take place on Jan. 31, 2022. We will send out more information on this upcoming call later this month. Please save the date.

On January 5, the province announced that the restrictions currently in place, including those impacting hockey, will remain in effect until at least January 31, 2022. 

To read today’s update from the province, please click here.

We will pass along any new updates to you as soon as we have them.

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.