A Cautionary Tale Of An Early Return To Hockey

Every sports fan wants their leagues to come back. Both at the adult and youth levels. But patience is a virtue, and health and safety should be the primary concern.

This is a lesson being learned the hard way by hockey families in New England, who are serving as a cautionary tale of returning to hockey too soon.

“The indoor space and close contact between players during a hockey game increase infection risk for players and create potential for a superspreader event, especially with ongoing community COVID-19 transmission,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote in a published report.

This after numerous players in numerous states have become infected with COVID-19.

Outbreaks in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine have halted hockey in the North East, and serve as a harbinger for what could come in Ontario if competitive action returns too soon. After all, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire were three of the most successful locations in the USA for controlling the spread of coronavirus.

In New Hampshire, the State paused their return to hockey after 158 people tested positive in the last two months directly related to hockey activities.

Vermont recently reported an outbreak of 18 people from a single rink, on a single day.

A study published by the CDC warns of the potential for virus outbreaks at hockey games.
A study published by the CDC warns of the potential for virus outbreaks at hockey games.CDC

In Maine, a referee exposed 400 people.

In Massachusetts, a high school hockey player who tested positive has more than three dozen players quarantining currently.

The examples go one and one.

Even here, North of the border, the QMJHL recently had to pause their season for the vast majority of teams after 26 players from a Blainville-Boisbriand versus Sherbrooke game.

“Hockey is a game that could facilitate transmission of COVID-19 for several reasons. It’s played indoors, the plexiglass shields around the rink limit ventilation, and the exertion of the players mean they are breathing heavily while close to each other — either during play or on the bench, and also in the locker rooms,” said Dr. Paul Sax, clinical director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in an article with the Boston Globe.

While everyone is hoping for a return to normalcy, including sport, all signs continue to point toward a slow, and measured return…which likely should not be attempted just yet.

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