Massachusetts is not alone in implementing a pause on indoor ice rinks and ice skating facilities. However, he said the organization expects families to comply with existing state guidelines on safe social interaction during the pandemic. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. [ Youth hockey set to resume in Mass. As USA Hockey continues adapting to the coronavirus situation, the safety of participants always remains our top priority. The Boston Globe … with new COVID-19 safety protocols] When it comes to social distancing for sports and other physical activities, the recommended guidance of six feet is more than doubled, meaning players have to remain 14 feet apart while sharing a single playing surface, court or field. While she did not outline significant details about the new regulations, Sudders said they will communicate "the expectation that if there's not cooperation, we would close down the rink or the team.". Here's everything we know about the hockey shutdown in Massachusetts: There have been at least 30 clusters of COVID-19 associated with organized ice hockey activities involving residents from more than 60 cities and towns in the state, health officials said. "There have been at least 30 clusters of COVID-19 associated with organized ice hockey activities involving residents from more than 60 municipalities in Massachusetts… "As noted above, we did not have direct contact with the administration prior to the shutdown and were unaware of any instances (of) coaches telling players that they could play for a different team while quarantining.". BOSTON - The Baker administration is preparing new regulations that will force Massachusetts youth hockey teams to help health experts track potential COVID-19 outbreaks, a … The Baker administration is preparing new regulations that will force Massachusetts youth hockey teams to help health experts track potential COVID-19 outbreaks, a step prompted by several teams and coaches obstructing the contact-tracing process in recent weeks, officials said Tuesday. Nearly 110 cases of the virus have been directly connected to hockey, the DPH said in a press release. In a news release late Wednesday, the governors of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Jersey said the prohibition, which had been set to expire Thursday, would be extended through Jan. 31. It's a grim forecast, especially for people like the Quirk family, who is in quarantine after an outbreak on son Ryan’s hockey team, the Boch Blazers. Dec. 4, 2020 at 6:43 p.m. UTC When a youth hockey coach in Texas died in August from covid-19, Steve Bellemore hoped it was just a chance tragedy. Hockey Not Riskier Than Other Sports. I know it’s a big part of mine.”. State officials will work with hockey organizers to minimize the risks while the pause is in place, and Joyce said his group is "committed to work with state officials to understand what we can collectively do to ensure that hockey does not experience a pause like this again in the future. A teenage boy from Massachusetts who crossed state lines to play in an ice hockey tournament has tested positive for COVID-19, raising new concerns about youth sports teams’ efforts to … Hockey and all other ice sports are on hold in New Hampshire after multiple COVID-19 outbreaks. College and professional programs are exempt from the order, the DPH said. This … Local health directors are worried and have been asking the Baker administration to tighten rules. I really think we are just seeing the beginning.". All rights reserved, Massachusetts Hockey released a statement, testing could be required before youth hockey is allowed to resume in the Granite State. "Not sharing the rosters so that you can't make the phone calls is, for us, not acceptable.". "I know the shutdown wasn't welcome news," Baker said Tuesday. Indoor ice rinks must remain closed through at least Nov. 7 under a Department of Public Health order issued last week after state health regulators linked more than 100 cases of the highly infectious coronavirus to ice hockey. Officials say youth sports are contributing to COVID-19 spread in Mass. Now, life is on hold for at least a couple of weeks following the new order from the state Department of Public Health that went into effect Friday at 5 p.m. and lasts until 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 7. “I think it was seven players tested positive, the coach and I think potentially a couple of the parents,” Kathryn Quirk said of the team's outbreak. "I mean as a hockey player I think I can speak for many other hockey players, my teammates and such, that we all want to be on the ice and playing hockey is a big part of our lives. Dozens of high school hockey players in a Massachusetts town that was recently labeled high-risk of COVID-19 transmission are quarantining themselves after … There has been speculation through recent stories in the news media to suggest hockey is riskier than other youth sports/activities related to COVID-19 and specifically the rink environment. Massachusetts Hockey released a statement reacting to the order, saying, in part, "There have been situations and areas where the Commonwealth feels compliance with the guidance has not been followed. A DPH investigation identified more than 30 COVID clusters linked to youth hockey, Baker said, with at least 110 confirmed cases and 22 more probable cases spread across at least 66 cities and towns. The governors took the action because of coronavirus outbreaks associated with youth hockey activities. Each includes two or more confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, for a total of 108 confirmed cases. New Hampshire and other states have also imposed similar restrictions. All interstate hockey competitions for public schools, private schools and youth leagues in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode … Sudders said the administration is preparing "strengthened guidances" that will mandate compliance with contact tracing efforts, including a clear requirement that teams must share rosters. “And it's creating this perfect storm in my opinion," he said. COVID-19 call hotlines, get text updates, and more Unemployment insurance Food and economic assistance Business loans and support Health care facilities: Request PPE Renters and homeowners Know your rights related to COVID-19 Childcare providers for first responders Mental health and well-being Resources for abuse and neglect End of life care Substance use help and prevention Homeless … Massachusetts on Thursday ordered the shutdown of every indoor ice skating facility in the state for two weeks in response to several COVID-19 clusters linked to ice hockey games and practices. At least 66 cities and towns have had at least one coronavirus case associated with organized ice hockey, the state said. BOSTON (WWLP) – Youth hockey in Massachusetts is temporarily shut down after more than 100 cases were traced back to local ice arenas. It was last week that he announced he was pausing indoor hockey and skating activities for two weeks after over 150 cases were directly connected to hockey. Chris Sununu said Thursday that testing could be required before youth hockey is allowed to resume in the Granite State. The goal of the shutdown was to develop stronger protocols to keep players, families, and staff safe. On several other occasions, team leaders told players that if they were under quarantine, they could not play for their regular team but could play for other teams — a system that is "obviously not quarantine," Sudders said. "There were a number of instances where the team would not hand over the rosters of players, so you didn't even know who was playing for us to make the contact, or coaches in a couple of instances telling families and the players to not respond to the contact tracers," Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders told reporters. During a Tuesday press conference, Gov. College and professional hockey and skating programs were exempt from DPH's rink shutdown order. Baker to Make Announcement Tuesday Morning, Boston Mayor Walsh to Provide COVID Update Tuesday, Copyright © 2021 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "Anybody who saw my social network page knows that. For now, recreational and youth hockey participants will have to wait for two weeks to see if infections go down so they can drop the puck again. Massachusetts on Thursday ordered the shutdown of every indoor ice skating facility in the state for two weeks in response to several COVID-19 clusters linked to ice hockey games and practices. Unfortunately, unless we are able to correct these issues, we would anticipate any further shutdown could be significantly longer than the current two weeks.”. Nov 6, 2020 BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Hockey said it is likely rinks will reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 following a coronavirus outbreak last month. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information. BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Interstate youth hockey competitions are out across New England and New Jersey because of rising coronavirus cases. Suspending youth hockey over coronavirus concerns has left many feeling blindsided. Charlie Baker and his health chief said their decision was prompted not only by the multiple clusters but also because some adults and coaches stymied the state's attempts to get a grasp of how far transmission spread. The hope is that shutting down ice rinks across Massachusetts for two weeks will stop the spike in COVID-19 cases in the hockey community. A spike in COVID-19 cases connected to indoor hockey has prompted the Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) to temporarily shut down all … They’re better now just as the two-week shutdown is beginning. Asked if the in-development guidelines would apply to any sports or organizations beyond hockey, a DPH spokesperson declined to comment. For a lot of families across the commonwealth, hockey is life. Neighboring states including New Hampshire have enacted similar temporary restrictions regarding indoor ice hockey. Harvard Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Mina says COVID fatigue combined with cooler weather and the reopening economy are driving infections. Speculation is the key word as there is no scientific evidence to back up that speculation. Officials say the new public health order is in response to multiple COVID-19 clusters occurring at rinks throughout Massachusetts following games, practices and tournaments. But youth hockey needs to make some changes and we look forward to working with them to create the kind of framework that will be safe for kids and for parents.". In Massachusetts, indoor rinks were shut after more than 100 COVID-19 cases were linked to hockey. Neither Baker nor Sudders identified any specific teams that refused to provide information about its players and who might have had contact with COVID-positive individuals. Massachusetts was among several New England states that temporarily shut down ice rinks after more than 30 coronavirus clusters were linked to local hockey leagues. "It was having a domino effect in our schools. Current protocols already include limits on the number of people allowed in an arena and social distancing. "We had to do something," he said. You don't want to let it go unchecked and allow that to really go out of control, with the repercussions of not just shutting down a hockey season but shutting down an entire school.". When the Commonwealth of Massachusetts released its guidance for this past week’s Phase 3 of reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic, ice hockey was among the … Gov. Joyce said Massachusetts Hockey has not been granted access to state data about cases and described it as "presumptuous" to make any decisions imminently. State health officials said the pause will allow for the development of stronger COVID-19 protocols to further protect players, families, coaches, arena staff and other participants, as well as communities surrounding hockey rinks. "There were a number of instances where the team would not hand over the rosters of players, so you didn't even know who was playing for us to make the contact, or coaches in a couple of instances telling families and the players to not respond to the contact tracers.". Governors from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut agreed to suspend interstate competitions for … USA Hockey is sanctioning hockey for the 2020-21 season and medical experts have confirmed that with taking appropriate precautions, it is indeed safe to play hockey today. Charlie Baker ordered indoor skating rinks close for two weeks starting Oct. 23 after at least 30 coronavirus clusters were linked to ice hockey.