GPAC Golden Arrow Storm against the Leduc Oil Kings in a playoff game this past March. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

Getting Back to Hockey

Despite Hockey Canada announcement, status of hockey in Grande Prairie still uncertain

Jun 4, 2020 | 1:12 PM

On Thursday, Hockey Canada released a statement regarding it plan for a return to play for the 2020-2021 hockey season.

The plan states that a decision for a return to the ice will be determined separately by each of Hockey Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial members and their provincial and territorial public health authorities across the country.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic there was some discussion that Hockey Canada would like all provinces to return to play at the same time, but as confirmed cases in some provinces have gone down, others provinces like Ontario and Quebec have remained the same, which is why a decision to allow other provinces to return at different times was made.

Brett Stephenson is the President of the Grande Prairie Minor Hockey Association and says this announcement is encouraging, but a return to minor hockey in the province still remains up in the air.

“We are still on hold. We have to wait for a few of the organizations to release what they want to do and then it’s a trickle-down effect to us. We’re still looking at Alberta Health Services, Hockey Alberta, City of Grande Prairie and then I think we’re long on that list of hoping for (a return) sooner rather than later, but we’ll have to take direction from those groups before we get rolling.”

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One thing is certain for a return to play is that the game will look different than it did just a few months ago.

While the rules will be the same, physical distancing measures for teams will have to take place. Stephenson couldn’t comment on what some of the ideas discussed in the meetings with Hockey Alberta could look like, but some provinces have opened rinks already and could provide an idea on what measures would be put in place.

In B.C. some rinks that have opened require a limited number of players on the ice at a time. Most rinks that are open require players to get dressed at home and put their skates on at the rink. Other ideas floated around have included limiting the amount of coaches on the bench, and not allowing fans in the stands.

“We will get back to hockey, we will get back to sports, and some kind of normalcy, but there will be a few accommodations that we will have to get used to moving forward,” said Stephenson.

Stephenson tells EverythingGP that as the season approaches, there are still concerns from parents about letting their kids play, and Grande Prairie Minor Hockey wants to make sure that the game is as safe as it can be for whenever there is a return.

“I think it’s like school, there are parents that are ok with it, that want to get back to normal and there are some parents out there that are quite worried. We’ll just have to wait and see. You could have a few (kids) that could drop off this year because they want to see what happens moving forward, but I’m ok with that.

“It’s a society where you got to decide on what’s the best interest of your young player and make that decision. On our end, we are going to do as best as we can to keep everyone safe. At the end of the day it’s about the little ones playing.”

As of Thursday, the Province of Alberta is looking at how early they can proceed with stage two of its relaunch. Allowing sporting activities to resume is not scheduled to take place until stage three.