Updates: COVID, External Competition and Next Stage (December)
First of all, SMHA would like to
thank you all for your patience during this very different hockey
season. It has been an ongoing struggle to keep up with the constant
change.
COVID SCREENING
As I'm sure that everyone is aware, we have been moved to the Orange level by our local Health Unit. The City of Stratford has made some changes to their screening requirements. Starting immediately, all participants (coaches, players and parents that are staying to supervise their child) must go through SMHA's screening process. A questionnaire must be filled out for each individual, for example if the parent is staying to watch, they must fill out 2 separate questionnaires, one for themselves and one for the player.
EXTERNAL COMPETITION
Even though the Alliance has received approval for 5 V 5 and external competition from the OHF, the government guidelines of no crossing health units while in certain colour codes is still the rule that must be followed. Since Huron-Perth has moved to Orange status, SMHA cannot travel outside of our health unit to play other centers at this time. This can change monthly as all health units review and assign their colour codes. To review the OHF bulletin around what each colour zone represents please follow this
link.
We have received questions about playing against local OMHA centers (Mitchell, St. Mary's, etc.), we have put in a request with the Alliance to have this approved by OHF but we don't anticipate this starting until the new year at the earliest.
Teams can move up to 5 V 5 play within our organization if they wish but must still remain in their cohorts or 10 + goalie.
NEXT STAGE
SMHA will run our next stage beginning November 28 throughout December 20. Each team will receive approximately 7 ice times during this stage, at a cost of $120 per player. Please send payments via the same e-transfer process as previous stages prior to December 7th, 2020. SMHA Board of Directors have voted to shut down from December 21 until January 3 which means no SMHA related activities will be allowed during that period. We will continue to work on what the next stage(s) will look like and forward on information as it becomes available.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your convenor.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank you for your patience and wish you all a happy holiday.
Chris Traynor
Vice President SMHA