NEW COVID-19 PROTOCOLS, News (Sault Major Hockey)

• There will be NO games or exhibition games permitted.

• Teams are allowed to practice, but there is to be NO BODY CONTACT and coaches must ensure to the best of their abilities that players maintain physically distanced throughout the practices. 

• Teams are to use TWO dressing rooms and evenly distribute their players between the two rooms.  Players must wear masks while in the dressing room.

• Absolutely NO sharing of water bottles

• Teams with games and tournaments scheduled outside of Sault Ste. Marie will still be allowed to travel and compete

• Affiliate players will be allowed to practice, play games and travel with their affiliated teams provided they have their home-team coach's permission to do so

It should also be noted that there was already a two-week period over the Christmas holidays where an agreement had been reached between SMHA and the local Officials organization that there were to be no games scheduled in order to give our very short list of officials a much-needed rest.   Now, with the addition of the APH announcement, that period is extended to 28 days, or until the framework is changed by APH.

It is a privilege that our young players be allowed to continue to play and we all have a part in ensuring that this can continue.  While we echo your frustrations in all of this, we are doing as instructed by APH and working within the framework they have provided to us. APH has made it extremely clear that organizations that do not adhere to their guidelines WILL BE FINED.   Please ensure that you follow the guidelines, as compliance is vital to allowing the kids to continue to play.  Failure to do so will absolutely result in a complete loss of privilege for the entire organization, the absolute last thing any of us want to see. 

SMHA EXECUTIVE