Junior hockey teams have been sliced in half by a provincial health order this week allowing athletes 18 and under to continue practice sessions in team sports, but barring those over 18.
Junior hockey players are ages 16 to 20, meaning 19- and 20-year-olds have effectively been severed from their own teams.
“We are a team, so we don’t want to be forced to push our 19- and 20-year-olds aside,” said Pete Zubersky, general-manager of the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.
Zubersky cancelled the Panthers’ scheduled practice Friday night at Panorama Rec Centre, despite the fact that the facility appeared to OK it.
Zoe Gray, corporate communications officer for the Capital Regional District, told the Times Colonist via email that following the Dec. 2 order, Panorama Recreation sought clarification related to junior hockey teams where some participants are over the age of 18.
“Island Health advised that if the majority of players are under 19, and the team activities are structured with an adult coach, that it can be considered a ‘youth sport’ when reviewing the order,” she said.
The Panthers have eight 19- and 20-year-old players and 17 players who are 18 and younger, which means they would qualify as youth sports.
But Zubersky said the team decided not to go ahead with Friday’s practice out of an abundance of caution.
“Just too many different government agencies and we don’t want to step on the wrong toes,” he said.
The new health order, released Thursday, reads: “Adults (including players over 18 on junior teams) may not participate with their teams at this time).”
B.C. Hockey CEO Cam Hope of Victoria has been dealing with the fallout from what he calls an “unusual situation.”
“I really feel for the teams affected and understand their frustration. Unfortunately, it’s not something we can control. There is no avenue for us to make a change. Public health trumps sport. We will continue to have a dialogue. Hopefully, this is a short-term thing.”
The issue is moot in terms of games because they have all been cancelled for team sports. The nine-team Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League has not played since the original restrictions announced Nov. 19, which run through Monday.
Further orders were added Thursday by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, shutting down all adult and youth games in team sports “for the next few weeks.”
Henry cited going out for beers and coffee after games and practices as a prime source of COVID transmission in adult sports leagues.
Also affected by the order is the junior B.C. Hockey League, which has an Island Division, and had planned to open its season on Tuesday. That is unlikely to happen now. But not even being able to practice with a full team has drawn the ire of some BCHL coaches.
“It’s knee-jerk and it’s ridiculous and it’s asinine,” said a BCHL head coach, who did not want to be identified, because he said the league has told its coaches not to comment in the media.
“We have 19- and 20-year-olds billeted with 16- and 17-year-olds. What are they supposed to do? Drop off their younger teammates and wait in the parking lot?
“Due diligence wasn’t done about this. This is affecting the dreams and aspirations of our 19- and 20-year-old players, who are dialed into their hockey careers. Our players don’t go out for beers after games. To compare us with adult beer leagues is insulting. I am hoping common sense kicks in and they fix this.”
