Hello Lancer
Families:
Last week our
Health Unit met with local area Minor Hockey Associations and advised they
would be sending a list of substantial restrictions in the coming days, that would need to be
applied to programming, but to date, we are still waiting on those. We will
communicate any information as it becomes available to us.
After considering the increase in COVID-19 cases and the high transmissibility rates that Omicron has shown within our area, last night, MHAL Executive unanimously voted to pause all league GAME playeffective immediatelyuntil January 1st, 2022. Regularly scheduled practices will continue. If you and/or your player have reservations surrounding attending scheduled practice ice, please do not feel obligated to attend - do what feels right for your family.
This decision comes in response to the growing number of teams in our local area that now find themselves in isolation during the holiday season. Although Omicron appears to be milder in severity, a confirmed positive diagnosis for a teammate will still result in a 10-day isolation period for your player, family members, teammates, game officials, ruining holiday plans, family time, etc. As the number of teams in isolation continues to climb, we feel the only way to try to get a handle on the situation is to put a pause in league game play.
By taking this pause now, it is anticipated that all players (and their families) currently in isolation will have completed that process, ensuring they have not missed any significant ice time.
Teams may continue to practice through this time but will not travel to games nor will we host games. The pause starts today, December 21st and runs to the end of our previously scheduled mid-season break on January 1st. Because there was already an OHF-mandated holiday break scheduled, this decision will result in only having to reschedule a few games.
At this time, MHAL wishes to thank all our teams, players, families, and volunteers for their diligent work in following the appropriate (tedious) safety protocols consistently, keeping everyone safe as we continue to play the game we love.
We will be back! – Please continue to monitor the organization calendar, individual team calendars, and the website for further updates.
MHAL Executive