Good morning Metro West Force Families.

On Wednesday we received the positive news that we will be returning to play again!

As part of this, there are some new stipulations that we will need to keep in mind. Starting Feb 14th, the following restrictions will be in place:

• Groups of up to 60 are now permitted in the field of play.
• Teams can have practices and regular league games.
• Competition is limited to regular league games. This refers to the current league that your team is playing in. If a game is part of your team’s regular league or competitive schedule, it is allowed. Bringing together teams that typically do not play one another is not allowed.
• Tournaments are still not permitted.
• Physical distancing is not required in the field of play. Field of play refers to the ice surface, team benches, penalty box, timekeeper’s box, and dressing room; masks are recommended at all times when not on the ice surface.
• Spectators are allowed up to the formal gathering limit; the formal gathering limit for gatherings is 50% of capacity indoors. Capacities will vary by facility. Please liaise with your Team Safety Rep for this information. They will be updated before the start of the regulation implementation on Monday.

Special reminders:

• For games and shared practices, The spectator amount will be split between both teams. 50% of max capacity is the FULL TOTAL in the formal gathering limit.
• Expect Facilities to require the teams to verify vaccination status of Participants and Spectators of your Team. Please do not assume they will not or access may not be granted to the respective facility.

I will also mention the obvious question some have. At this point, no information has been received on where we will re-start the season and where future play will lead going towards season end. As soon as we receive further information on this, we will let the Membership/Teams know.

For specific COVID regulations, please refer to the Public Health Regulations of the day.

For questions related to these restrictions, please reach out to your Team's Safety Rep or email riskmanagement@metrowestforce.com

Thanks

Metro West Force Executive

Given the forecast and likelihood of extensive freezing rain throughout the day, the HRM 4-Pad, RBC Centre and Lebrun will be closed for today Friday, February 5th with a delayed opening on Saturday, February 5th,  until 12 noon. All rentals will be cancelled. 

SMU Dauphinee has also notified us that they will be delaying opening Saturday morning.  Morning ice times have been cancelled.

Welcome back to hockey everyone!

Even though we are coming back to a limited degree, we are back nonetheless.  Based on the current restrictions put forward by Hockey Nova Scotia and Public Health, we are required to change our road back to the rink.  How we need to do this is as follows:

1. No spectators at any events.  This is a HNS Mandate.

2. Cohorts. The current restrictions require independent groups of 10. This includes coaches in the numbers. These groups are non-interchangeable once set and will be decided by the coaching staff of the teams. This will be for the overall term of restrictions, not the current ice session. For usual groups, ice can obviously split in the middle. For larger groups such as U7/U9, we can divide in groups of 3 using the blue lines unless restricted by the facility. If we are made aware of an issue, we will communicate with the affected group. MWF will not permit more than 3 groups.

3. Player preparedness. In order to maximize groups on the ice at all levels, MWF has decided that players must come ready to go minus skates. No locker rooms will be used. If we use locker rooms we will require an independent set of locker room monitors for each room. For normal rentals we will only get two locker rooms. For cohorts of over two, this will be a problem. SO, be ready, and the ONLY volunteer required will be a safety rep until the players pass the door for all groups. The rep will be masked and distanced and will visually verify the player and off they go.

These guidelines are subject to change depending on MWF, HNS, Facility and Public Health requirements/needs. Please be patient, understanding and most importantly versatile. We are very much in a compliance state in our current day to day business. Furthermore, we are making the most of a bad situation and trying to do what matters the most. Keeping the kids on the ice!

Please stay tuned for further messaging from your teams on ice times, ice locations and assigned cohorts.

Metro West Force Executive

MWF will continue to pause all hockey operations.

We continue to monitor the situation closely with our partners; at this point we are targeting January 12, 2022 to provide an update on restarting our programs.

Please review the latest update from Hockey Nova Scotia.  At this time, Metro West Force will still be shut down for all practices and MWF sanctioned events until further notice.

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Good evening everyone,

Earlier today, 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.

The following restrictions are effective at 6 a.m. tomorrow (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
• 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.

Yours in Hockey,

Amy Walsh
Executive Director
Hockey Nova Scotia

Arnie Farrell
President
Hockey Nova Scotia

Garreth MacDonald
Communications & Special Events Director
Hockey Nova Scotia

259 Commodore Drive
Dartmouth, NS, B3B 0M1
902.454.9400

hockeynovascotia.ca