Hello to the Ice Kat Family, We hope you are all excited for the upcoming holiday and time with your families. We have loved seeing the girls on the ice and have had such a successful first half of the season with the players on the ice consistently since August.
As far as COVID protocols and keeping the players out there, our organization has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of our youth both on and off the ice since we were permitted back in the arenas back in August. We have followed the protocols and we continue to do so with a great connection and communication with Public Health and our governing bodies in sport as well as provincial guidelines.
The athletes have continued to come to the arena dressed in order to minimize the time inside of the arena, they have worn masks as they entered the facilities and until they put on their helmets, and the number of spectators was limited to the allowable numbers within the public health guidelines. We have also been only playing locally in house in bubbles according to the OWHA and Ontario guidelines with practices and 4 on 4 games.
We have upgraded the PPE that is being worn by the bench staff at games where 2 m spacing is not possible as per the provincial and public health guidelines that were just recently implemented within the past couple of weeks. We continue to screen every individual who enters the rink on a daily basis. We have full contact tracing taking place for each event and consult with public health when questions arise.
Unfortunately, with the recent provincial announcements, we will be forced to shut our program down for 28 days. We had planned on not being on the ice for 2 weeks over the holidays, so we will look at this as a slightly extended break and a time for rejuvenation for the girls. We will do everything we possibly can to get the teams back on the ice as soon as it is possible, and we get the green light to go ahead with our programming after the lockdown is lifted.
We are committed to continuing our programs and to provide an outlet for our young athletes to thrive in sport with health, fitness, teamwork and so much more as the focus of their time within the program. We realize that our youth need positive channels for overall health and wellbeing, and we are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for them to do so when we are permitted to return to practices and game play.
Thank you for all of your support in our programs and to the volunteers who put in numerous hours to make the programs run efficiently and in making it a positive experience for our athletes during a challenging time in their lives.
Happy Holidays to everyone! Be Healthy and Happy!
The PGHA Executive