Menu

Topics

Connect

Comments

Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.

B.C.’s public health order having ‘unintended consequences,’ says BCHL commissioner

B.C.’s public health order having ‘unintended consequences,’ says BCHL commissioner – Dec 9, 2020
The province’s latest pandemic restrictions are having unintended consequences, says the B.C. Hockey League.
Story continues below advertisement

The junior-A league has again pushed back its season start, this time to 2021 following news on Dec. 7 that the province was extending its ban on social gatherings to Jan. 8.

Earlier this month, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry banned all adult indoor and outdoor team sports, though exceptions are being made for those 18 and under.

READ MORE: Adult outdoor and indoor teams sports banned in British Columbia, kids dance classes allowed again

On Wednesday morning, the Penticton Vees hit the ice at the South Okanagan Events Centre to practice.

Well, at least some of them did — 12 players on the team’s roster were forced to sit and watch from the stands, victims of Henry’s latest province-wide restrictions.

“It’s simply because of their birthdate,” Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson told Global News.

On Thursday, Dec. 3, the provincial health officer (PHO) banned people over 18 years of age from playing all indoor and outdoor team sports in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“It’s a story of unintended consequences,” said BCHL commissioner Chris Hebb.

That province-wide restriction on adult sports also included junior hockey players.

Story continues below advertisement

“So, we literally have a situation where our 16, 17 and 18-year-olds can skate under the orders of the PHO, and the 19 and 20-year-olds have to sit in the stands,” Hebb explained.

As a result, Matteo Constantini and the rest of the Penticton Vees’ young guns struggled to take the ‘shooter tutor’ seriously during practice.

That’s because the Vees’ two goalies are on the sidelines under the new rule.

“Both our goalies, one is 19 one is 20. Pretty hard to run practice without goalies,” Harbinson lamented.

Up in the stands, it’s a tale of two Niedermayers.

Story continues below advertisement
Older brother Jackson is being forced to sit and watch, though younger brother Joshua can hit the ice for practice.

“We understand what’s going on, but, at the same time, we want to stay in our little bubble and follow the guidelines that have been put out,” said  Harbinson.

“We think the 19 and 20-year-olds should be allowed to do that with their teammates.”

Recently, though, a Vees player tested positive for COVID-19. However, Harbinson maintains that the team’s stringent coronavirus protocols keep players safer than if they weren’t part of the roster.

Story continues below advertisement

“When they are in my environment and practicing every day, and under our watch from morning till night, they’re probably in a safer situation for themselves and the people they come in contact with,” Harbinson said.

Harbinson says perhaps the team’s best illustration of the arbitrary nature of the new regulation is winger Luc Wilson, who just turned 19 two weeks ago.

Had his birthday been later, Wilson could be practicing instead of watching practice.

According to Hebb, there is a reconsideration clause in the new order, and the league has reached out to Henry, hoping to make their case.

“We have sent two reconsideration letters that we laboured over to make the point in a number of cases, that there should be an exemption for our players,” Hebb said.

So far though, he said, those letters have gone unanswered.

Story continues below advertisement
In related news, the United States Hockey League is around eight games into its new season.Results from online game sheets show attendance at some games and none at others.For example, on Saturday, the Chicago Steel beat the National Team Development Program (NTDP) 5-2 in one of five games that evening. The listed attendance at Fox Valley Ice Arena was zero.Regarding the other four games that night, two had zero attendance figures, with the other two having fans (580 and 959).
Advertisement

You are viewing an Accelerated Mobile Webpage.

View Original Article