On Saturday, November 14, Martensville Minor Hockey Association (MMHA) announced new protocols and safety measures with the surge in COVID-19 cases in and around the community.
With the rising numbers, the MMHA initially had decided to increase their safety measures, with changes made to the total number of spectators permitted within the facilities, mandatory masks for all spectators and for coaches and players when entering and exiting the rink, as well as while in the dressing rooms. Coaches were also required to wear a mask while on the bench, or on the ice.
Other changes were also listed which allocated restrictions on when and how players and their parents arrived at the rink to reduce the amount of time spent in dressing rooms.
This announcement followed a release from the Saskatchewan Health Authority about a possible COVID exposure at the Martensville Sports Centre on October 31, November 1 and November 6.
Trevor Hanley, President of the MMHA, said that some of the measures shared this weekend were a reminder to their Association to continue to be diligent. “The more restrictive measures imposed over the weekend were our decision based on what we were seeing and hearing around our community and in consultation with Public Health and the City of Martensville. We have received overwhelming support from our membership, our community, Sask Health and Sask Hockey with regards to these increased measures,” Hanley said.
Although the MMHA had posted the announcement of further restrictions last week, as of Tuesday, November 17, they will officially be suspending all minor hockey sanctioned events (dryland training, practices, team building, and games).
They stated that “with the cases of COVID-19 continuing to rise in our community, and in consultation with Health Care Professionals we have made the decision to press pause on our season effective immediately. Continuing is just too risky right now.”
Their intention is to resume December 1, 2020 should the situation in Martensville allow that to happen.
“We are an organization made up of people who care deeply for one another and want to see our community thrive, succeed and be well. COVID-19 has impacted all of those things so it impacts us all as people,” quoted Hanley.
They asked for everyone to be safe and be diligent so that they can get their season back on track. You can watch for updates with information on the Martensville Minor Hockey Association Facebook page.
