Hockey, curling, dance communities react to COVID-related restrictions

Hockey in Saskatchewan is heading to an intermission.

The Government of Saskatchewan imposed new restrictions on Wednesday to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. One of those restrictions said all sports in the province would be suspended until Dec. 17.

Athletes who are 18 years old and younger can practise but only in groups of eight or less.

Saskatchewan Hockey Association general manager Kelly McClintock said he was disappointed by the news.

“We had hoped that we could keep playing games until Dec. 17, when we had a mandatory shutdown for games planned within our return to hockey. We’re a little disappointed to shut down the entire province,” McClintock said.

The SJHL also got into the act, announcing late Wednesday that no games would be played after 12:01 a.m. Friday until after Christmas. It then will need to receive direction from the province in order to continue playing.

SJHL Season On Pause https://t.co/sazLI7rK5u

— SJHL (@theSJHL) November 25, 2020

The original SHA return-to-play plan had a break for Christmas, with hockey picking up in the new year. But McClintock admitted he doesn’t know what hockey will look like at the start of 2021.

He said he has heard from people in areas where there are low case numbers that they didn’t want to be shut down.

“The rates of COVID in their area are smaller and certainly (we’re hearing) from people who want their kids to be physically active and it helps them mentally,” McClintock said.

Earlier this week, the Saskatchewan Health Authority released a list of places where transmission is occurring in the province and 25 per cent was attributed to recreational facilities. That lumped hockey arenas with casinos and bingo halls.

“A lot of our membership is thoroughly upset with the Sask. Health Authority for clumping in arenas with casinos and bingo halls,” McClintock said.

“I don’t know of a case transmitted or traced back to a spectator in a facility and so it’s really upsetting to our membership to see arenas clumped in with that group but places like bars and that listed at the bottom. We know from a few weeks ago where a lot of bars et cetera in Saskatoon caused a lot of cases.”

McClintock said that all sports organizations were told last Wednesday the government didn’t want to shut down sports and that leagues needed to come up with new restrictions and suggestions.

“Kids love playing; it doesn’t matter what sport they’re playing,” McClintock said. “I feel bad for any kid playing any sport that now they’re put on the shelf again.”

In a memo, the association said no games of any kind can be played Friday and beyond. Hockey Regina also issued a memo saying Thursday would be the final day of games and practices.

“I understand where (the government) is coming from in terms of we’re not seeing the numbers go down. We’re not seeing people be responsible and following guidelines,” McClintock said.

CurlSask executive director also ‘disappointed’

Curling wasn’t spared from the province’s decision to suspend sports in Saskatchewan.

Falling under the same rules as hockey, CurlSask executive director Ashley Howard was left wondering how rinks will cope with the new measures.

“I’m really disappointed and really devastated for our curling community to have to shut down,” she said. “This is very impactful and dramatic for our clubs.”

Howard said there are 126 curling clubs across the province, and nearly all of them will shut down until at least Dec. 17.

With operating costs ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 each month depending on the club, keeping the lights on for one sheet isn’t feasible.

“To sit empty with no revenue or no opportunity, it will become difficult to pay those utility bills,” she said. “It certainly will have ripple effects in our sport throughout all levels.”

Some clubs will have requests for refunds pour in over the weekend while others might not reopen after Dec. 17.

Howard said it isn’t hard to imagine clubs shutting down across the province due to the lost revenues on top of all previous restrictions in place.

While she understands there are risks involved in any activity, it’s tough to accept curling will shut down the same day thousands of people file into stores for Black Friday shopping.

“It is disappointing to be directly targeted,” she said. “I’m confident that (health officials) are making the right decisions to keep Saskatchewan residents safe. It’s unfortunate that it’s at the cost of our sport that I love so much.”

Dance studio owner applauds government effort

At least one dance studio in Saskatoon is happy with the province’s approach to limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Ashley Berrns, owner of Dance INK, will have to reduce her class sizes to eight or fewer people, and that is fine by her.

“I think it’s a good move. I’m happy that we have to make the changes for a short period of time because, in the end, it’s worth it,” she said.

Berrns said she has had people close to her affected by COVID-19 and will do everything in her power to keep dance classes as safe as possible for her students.

She didn’t wait for government orders to mandate masks and limit classes to a maximum of 15 people in the fall. Her plan is to have her larger classes split in half. One half will be online and the other will be in the studio before alternating each week.

While many of the restrictions introduced since March have largely affected children, Berrns is feeling the need to bring more positivity into their lives.

“Dance is such a great thing in their life, and we can continue to keep dancing together in a safe way, so I don’t think we have to put any extra stress on our kids,” she said.

“We’ll find a way to make it happen for them.”

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Keenan Sorokan