The Province announced on February 23, 2022 that the timeline for easing Public Health restrictions is moving up and all restrictions are expected to end on March 21. To read the province’s latest release, please click here.

On Monday, March 7, at 12:01 a.m., Phase 2 will begin with the following restrictions in effect:

• teams can have practices, games, competitions and tournaments with up to 60 participants in the field of play, including players and officials; spectators are allowed, following the formal gathering limit (see below)
• games are no longer limited to the regular competitive/league schedule; bringing together teams that typically do not play one another will be allowed
• the formal gathering limit will be 75 per cent capacity, with physical distancing as much as possible, for gatherings at hockey games, practices, tournaments, etc. Please confirm with your local facility to see how this will affect their capacity

Additional information will be made available soon on what it means for hockey (including an update on proof of full vaccination, as well as close contacts).

Please find Hockey Nova Scotia’s close contact guidelines by clicking here.

We have been working with our provincial and Public Health partners to establish these guidelines. Public Health has confirmed the definition of close contacts within the document.

We know that as we continue to move through the phases of the new reopening plan, there will be some changes made to the close contact requirements in the coming weeks. We will try to stay on top of those changes and keep you updated as soon as we receive any updates.

We know that the last few days have been challenging for many of you, especially our safety reps. Thank you for your patience as we worked through this process and thank you for all that you do.

Nova Scotia Public Health - Information for Covid-19 Close Contacts

Earlier today, the province announced that beginning next week, COVID-19 restrictions will be eased over three phases. To read the complete release from the province, please click here.

Phase 1 will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Feb, 14 and the following restrictions impacting hockey will go into effect:

• Groups of up to 60 are now permitted in the field of play.
• Teams can have practices and regular league games (see explanation below).
• 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; 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 per cent of capacity indoors. Capacities will vary by facility. Please check with your local rink. (NOTE: While today’s press release states that fitness, recreation and leisure businesses and organizations can operate at 75 per cent capacity and references arenas, we have clarified with the province that this section does not apply to hockey or spectators at a hockey game).

We know today’s update will be welcome news for our members as we return to game action. We are hopeful that we will continue to trend in the right direction. Phase 1 is the first step in a three phase reopening plan and each phase is expected to last about a month. We understand that the situation will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis and we will provide more information to you as soon as we have it.

We will also be providing an update later this month on how this will impact the remainder of the season (including provincial tournaments and other events).

Please continue to follow the protocols and thank you all for your continued support. As always, we appreciate your efforts and commitment to keeping everyone on the ice.

The province announced that beginning on Monday, Feb. 7, restrictions are easing for sports practices and arts and culture rehearsals. All other restrictions will remain in place until Feb. 14. To read the full news release from the province, please click here.

This means that as of Monday, teams will be able to have full-team practice with up to 25 people indoors in the field of play. However, multiple groups and games will not be permitted.

Spectators are still not permitted in the facility.

As Public Health continue to advise against travel outside the province unless it is essential, Hockey Nova Scotia will not be permitting teams to leave the province for games and tournaments.

At this time, the only Nova Scotia-based teams permitted to play outside of the province are teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and teams in the Maritime Hockey League (MHL). This is because both the QMJHL and MHL are considered businesses.

Earlier today, the provincial government announced that the current provincewide restrictions would be extended until Feb. 14. To read the full press release from the province, please click here.

During the update, however, Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nova Scotia, noted that, "We’ll continue to monitor closely and recognizing the importance of activities like sports, arts and culture to mental and physical health, we will open those activities sooner if possible."

Premier Tim Houston also mentioned that, "The goal that we're… working towards is to relax some restrictions in arts and culture."

He indicated that, depending on the hospitalization rate and the continued success of the booster campaign, the following could be allowed in the coming weeks:

• sports teams could be allowed to resume full practices with their entire teams "around Feb. 7"
• competitions and games could be permitted by Feb. 14

This is the goal of the province but a firm plan is not currently in place yet.

As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to work with Public Health and the province to get safely back to game action as soon as possible.

With the current restrictions impacting hockey remaining in effect until at least the end of the month, we wanted to pass along some additional information that our associations, leagues, and teams may find helpful during these challenging times.

Public Health guidelines for positive cases and close contacts

If a member of your team tests positive for COVID-19, that individual must follow the steps laid out here by Public Health.

After a positive test, a team safety rep (or team manager) should be contacted to inform the team of the positive case. Those who have been in contact with the player (i.e.: exposed to COVID-19) would be considered close contacts. Public Health’s recommendations for close contacts can be found here and must be followed. The instructions can vary by age, vaccination status, and whether or not you have recently recovered from COVID-19.

Again, please familiarize yourself with this close contacts resource from Public Health.

Testing/Rapid Tests

Testing: Anyone seeking testing must first complete an online assessment to determine whether they need a test and which type. If testing is recommended, they must book an appointment. Testing for the purposes of returning to activity/play is not a valid reason to access a test.

For information on testing, please click here.

Rapid Tests: Rapid tests can be picked up at various pop-up locations across the province, which are set up as walk-ins and do not require the same pre-screening. Accessing rapid tests to supply to entire teams will not be possible.

A list of sites operating weekly can be found here: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus/covid-19-rapid-testing                                                                           

Hockey Nova Scotia Dressing Room Supervision Policy (Two-Deep Rule)

We realize that the current restrictions have posed challenges for teams trying to adhere to our dressing room supervision policy. We have been in touch with our colleagues at the province to express these concerns. As a result of these conversations, we have received approval to allow a safety rep (or similarly qualified individual who meets the requirements of the policy) to serve as a dressing room supervisor prior to the start of practice.

These individuals should minimize the time spent in the dressing room/field of play area, remain physically-distanced (at least six feet apart) from participants and coaches, and wear a mask at all times. The individual serving in this role should remain as consistent as possible from session to session.

Association and league safety reps should contact their local facilities to inform them of the additional person in the field of play.

Groups of 10

Associations, leagues and teams are reminded that more than one (1) group of 10 is allowed on the ice during a practice as long as the cohorts are distanced from each other the entire time. There can be no mixing of cohorts during the session. The ice surface would have to allow for distancing between the cohorts. Groups should also use staggered entry into the facility and onto the field of play, separate change rooms, etc.

Again, we want to stress that coaches and players cannot switch groups during the on-ice session.

While it will not always be possible, groups should aim to remain as consistent as possible from one practice to the next.

Provincial Member Call reminder

Our next provincial member call will take place on Jan. 31, 2022. We will send out more information on this upcoming call later this month. Please save the date.