carroll81

NH shuts hockey down https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/nh-gov-sununu-to-give-coronavirus-update-3/2212577/

From the East: Intercounty (ICSHL) Varsity opening day is January 1. Planning to get a full season in, though maybe a few less games (12 instead of 16).

From the East: DVHL starts this coming weekend using their Covid-19 protocol I sent earlier. Atlantic League started 2 weeks ago with full rosters. All games were using 2 official system, midget moving to 4 officials next weekend. Rinks were limited to no spectators up until this past weekend. Most rinks allowing spectators now, with various checks or policies upon arrival. Rinks are still pretty empty though. No gathering allowed. Can't leave bags laying around. You're in and you're out.

That was the original science - droplets. Now the science says aerosol also. Droplets = Distance. Aerosols = Exposure (space you are in and length of time in that space). Not using math. I specifically said I was not going to argue the math. The point is you have to use different math for the different exposure types. I agree with your points about locker rooms vs. benches. I've made that point before. Using your argument about the 2 seconds when someone coughs on you is valid, hence my previous points about lining up for faceoffs. Other youth sports (lacrosse) have eliminated faceoffs for now. Other youth hockey leagues have also eliminated faceoffs now.

Here's the difference, and I am not advocating that the actual numbers are justified, just explaining the difference. It is exposure time. In that store, no one of those 322 is next to someone for more than a minute, with the exception of the checkout, which is a few minutes. At a sporting event, people are next to each other for up to an hour and a half.

It says in their documents that nothing they are doing now precludes going back to "regular" format if allowed.

Update on DVHL plans, looks like we are going ahead with the 25 person limit: DVHL has released their plan for season opening on 10/1 and added their Covid Protocol this afternoon DVHL Return to Play DVHL Covid Protocol

USAH insurance, for players, is a supplement for health insurance. It would pick up something that your normal health insurance does not. I know of 2 people that used it. But the claims process is a pain and it is only after other insurance and $1000 deductible are met. This is really not the insurance issue I mean. The areas that are bigger concern are Catastrophic Injury (for players) and Liability Coverage (rinks and organizations, including coaches).

If your team is playing in a sanctioned event, then the USA Hockey and related insurance is in force. If you are playing in a non-sanctioned event, then you are own for insurance coverage. This includes players, officials, rinks and organizations. Goes back to everything The King used to preach about USAH.

I don't think the issue is really about enforcement. The potential issue is that once in a lifetime catastrophic injury or penalty. Somehow it ends up in court and the governing bodies are gonna say, they were not following local rules, so we did not sanction, so we have no liability. To most this will not matter, but to the party involved it could be a big deal.

In addition to above, play basketball (or soccer and lacrosse), preferably with good coaches. Helps learn spacing, time and distance.

Potential thorn in the side to open sports has popped up here in the east. 6 girls on a high school cheer squad test positive. Leads to 60 people quarantined. Contracted when one of the girls hung out with a friend who was a field hockey player. They were a school sponsored team at a private competition. Not sure if the competition was in state or out of state. The optics don't help the case for opening up sports.

Atlantic District just sent an email to all members outlining their recent efforts and asking everyone to write their legislators. Here is the link to their online letter generator: https://act.newmode.net/action/atlantic-amateur-hockey-association/write-your-legislators

I don't think it accomplishes anything other than making it look like the sponsors are doing something. I don't see it specifically overriding the emergency declaration. More smoke and mirrors.

It has always been the position that people with other health issues are most of the deaths and we all know that it is mostly older people; why.... because they have other health issues.

From the article: “This means we need to be careful about declaring the epidemic over in a given location simply because cases have started to decline,” Justin Lessler, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, wrote in an Op-Ed in The Washington Post on Friday. “What may be adequate immunity to stem the virus in summer may not be enough to stop epidemic spread in the winter — a phenomenon seen in each of the four modern influenza pandemics, where an initial summer wave quickly receded only to be followed by a large epidemic in the fall or winter.” And the concept of Super Spreader was dismissed weeks ago. The issue is super spreader events, not individuals.

From the East (District 1): Suburban One is playing and Central League is postponing. SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE PRESS RELEASE – DOYLESTOWN, PA – FRIDAY, August 28, 2020 The Suburban One League Executive Board voted this morning to approve Fall Sports in accordance with the delayed start proposal recommended by the Executive Committee on August 5, 2020. Under the approved plan, sports classified as Low/Moderate Risk which include Golf, Girls' Tennis, Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country, Water Polo, Girls' and Boys' Soccer, Field Hockey, and Girls' Volleyball can have their first regular season contest as follows: Golf - September 3, 2020, Girls’ Tennis - September 8, 2020 and all other Low/Moderate Risk sports on September 21, 2020. The High-Risk Fall Sport (Football) can begin competition on October 2, 2020. I like Garnet Valley Footballs approach (emphasis added): Garnet Valley football coach Mike Ricci said his players were disappointed but determined to use the fall to prepare for what they hope will be a season in the spring. “They are upset and justifiably,” Ricci said. “But once we work through that, we have the opportunity to respond in whatever way we want to respond. We need to choose to be positive. We need to use this time to continue to train, to get better so when the spring comes we’ll be prepared to be successful.”

Maybe nothing, in which case the restrictions may continue. He didn't say we can play with no restrictions on January 1st, he said the current restrictions should stay in place until January 1st.

In the East, DVHL has pushed the start date to Oct. 3. Looks like NJYHL did the same. AYHL does not have any games showing n their site yet. In all cases, practices are occurring and there are a handful of non-league games being scheduled as of right now. Silver sticks regionals are still listed to take place starting Sep 11, though not many teams are registered and the main Silver Sticks is not happening as of right now.

How about the District Safe Sport coordinator: https://www.midamhockey.com/page/show/5022966-safesport

Is it approved for use by Hockey Canada or USA Hockey?

Do you think that they knew that their behavior was going to cause your kids to not be able to play hockey right now?

No they don't understand the risks. If they did, they wouldn't sue because they stuck a knife in the toaster and electrocuted themselves, or spilled their hot coffee on themselves in the McDonalds drive through, and the don't understand the difference between walking past someone with Covid in the grocery store vs. sitting near them in restaurant for an hour and a half.

I'm trying to figure out if this was a goof on Wolf's part or a sly way to put the restriction in place without just coming out and banning it. In summary: The policy had been that it was up to local authorities to determine if sports could be held (i.e. county health departments, school districts, etc.). Yesterday he hosted a long Covid-19 press conference and at the very end, in response to a question he mentions that he thinks there should not be sports until next year. No further comment or questions on it and the presser ends. People start to realize what he said and start asking for details. His "team" realized what he said and starts to scramble. Five hours later they "clarify their recommendation". Everyone is now scrambling to figure out where they stand. My guess: He wanted to stop sports from the beginning, but didn't want to take the heat. So, he left it up to the local authorities. The local authorities are busy worrying about testing, contact tracing and trying to reopen. He doesn't like that they have not acted on sports, but still does not want to be the bad guy and simply update his policy. So, either unconsciously or on purpose mentions his thoughts at the end of the presser. Now he is hoping that the local authorities will ban sports, which is his desire. But, if they do it he won't take the heat. In the end, as I have said before, it does not matter what the PIAA, USAH, MidAM, Atlantic District, PIHL, ICSHL or any other league says. Wolf has the final say. This is just politics at this point. He should step up and make a determination get out of the way. OneHockey is hosting a large tournament in West Chester this weekend at this end of the state. We'll see how it goes.

The big problem for Pitt, or any university, is if you add NCAA hockey, you have to cut some other men's sport or add another comparable women's sport. Title IX.