We would like to welcome all of our Recreation Hockey participants and parents back to the rink starting Wednesday October 6th.  Recreation Hockey will commence with ice times for U11 through to U18. throughout next week.   Times and groups will be posted over the weekend, so please stay tuned for more information.  All of the ice for Recreation Hockey next week will be at East Coast Varsity Arena - ECV (formerly Bowles Arena).  These are practices only to get our players back on the ice.  Balancing will start for Recreation Hockey starting Wednesday, October 13th.  Most of the try-outs will be completed by this time and this will give us time to balance teams.  Please stay tuned for more information regarding Balancing in the coming week.  

 

Should you have any questions or queries, you can contact the Divisional Coordinators for Rec:

 

U11 - Brian Bruce - atomreccoordinator@whalers.com

U13 - Brian Bruce - peeweereccoordinator@whalers.com

U15 - Scott Rowe - bantamreccoordinator@whalers.com

U18 - Laurie Ossinger - midgetcoordinator@whalers.com

 

We are looking for volunteers to assist with the start of Recreational Hockey.  If you are interested, please contact the respective coordinator to indicate your willingness to assist or sign up via the link below.  We will need volunteers to assist with check-in, balancing activities and Covid Checks, including checking for Vaccination confirmation.  

 

We also wanted to make you aware of the following important items:

 

·       East Coast Varsity Arena - ECV (formerly Bowles) rules remain the same as last season for capacity, entry times as well as specified entrances for each rink.

·       Players will not be allowed to enter the rink until 15 minutes prior to ice time and have 15 minutes to exit the rink after ice time ends

·      Parents are NOT ALLOWED in the dressing room at any time, approved volunteers/ coaches only.

·      Parents will not be allowed in to tie skates, we will have volunteers who will be looking after that for any player that needs skates tied

·      Goalie parents will be allowed to help with goalie with their pads but must exit rink once done and wait for spectator check in outside.

·       ONE Spectator per player will be allowed at ECV, no exceptions for the start of the season.  Spectators will be allowed to enter the rink 5 minutes prior to ice time and must exit immediately when ice time ends and buzzer sounds.  For any players requiring help with tying skates, our dressing room volunteers will be looking after that.  

·       Covid Pre-screening forms MUST be completed by all players, volunteers, coaches and spectators before entering the rink each ice time.  If the form is not completed, entry will not be provided to anyone, including players.  Also please note that screening forms cannot be completed more than 24 hours prior to ice time.

·       All Vaccine-Eligible Players, Game Officials, HNS Officials, Instructors, Associations, Team Officials, Leagues, Programs and Volunteers are required to be Fully Vaccinated (i.e., including the 14-day period after receiving their completed dose) by October 4, 2021, or earlier.

·       Players 12 and over will be asked to show proof of vaccination as they enter the rink for their first ice session, which will then be noted on our master list for players if proof has been seen by our safety rep for all future practice and balancing session ice times. 
The following exceptions will apply:

o   Children who turned 12 between Jan. 1 and Oct. 4 this year will have until Dec. 31 to attend events and activities while they get vaccinated. Children who turn 12 after Oct. 4 will have three months from their birthday. If they choose not to get vaccinated, they will no longer be able to participate in these events and activities once the grace period is up

o   Children and youth age 13 to 18 who can provide proof that they received one dose of vaccine can start participating in sport, recreation, arts and culture programming on or after October 4. To continue participating, they must provide proof of full vaccination by November 9 (second dose plus 14 days for it to take effect). In other words, they must get a first dose no later than September 28 and a second dose no later than October 26. If you don’t meet the November 9 deadline, you will not be able to participate until you are able to provide proof of full vaccine (second dose plus 14 days for it to take effect).

·       Volunteers and Coaches will need to show proof of vaccination each session they are helping out with during balancing

·       Spectators will need to show proof of vaccination each session they attend.

PLEASE NOTE: DWMHA will not be keeping record of any information other than to indicate that proof vaccination record has been provided.  Also No player, volunteer, coach or spectator will be allowed entry into the facility without proof of vaccine shown.  Any Affected Person who is granted medical exemption through Valid Medical Contraindication for COVID-19 vaccinations must show proof to their safety rep with the approved documentation from a Physician or Nurse Practitioner.   HNS reserves the right to have exemption medical documentation reviewed by the HNS Chief Medical Officer to make appropriate inquiries to verify the authenticity of any claim for exemption.

For more information on Hockey Nova Scotia Proof of Vaccination Policy please go to https://whalers.org/news/2317/HOCKEY-NOVA-SCOTIA-PROOF-OF-VACCINE-POLICY/

 

Link for Covid Prescreening for Participants ->

U11

U13

U15

U18

 

Link for Covid Prescreening for Spectators ->  

U11

U13

U15

U18