BOSTON — Come Saturday, kids should be able to hit the ice after a two-week ban.
Two weeks ago, the state’s Department of Public Health temporarily halted youth hockey after more than a hundred hockey related COVID-19 cases were tied back to indoor hockey games.
“We’re excited to get the kids back on the ice Saturday morning and back to playing hockey,” said Kevin Kavanagh, the Executive Director of Massachusetts Hockey.
Massachusetts youth hockey has 50,000 members and most are 19 and under. But the end of the ban may come with some new safety guidelines. Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to announce on Friday some new safety protocols that hockey players must adhere to.
“We’ve known all along there’s likely some updated modifications coming to the guidance for youth sports in general," said Kavanagh.
Kavanagh says it’s not clear what these safety protocols will be, but he hopes they are reasonable.
He says that there has been good communications with the state so far and kids just want to lace up and start skating.
“We are comfortable that whatever they provide to us is going to be reasonable for the kids,” said Kavanagh.
According to Kavanagh, once they know what protocols are required, Massachusetts Hockey will work with members to implement any changes.
“I think whatever modifications come will allow us to be back on the ice Saturday morning and if everyone does what they are asked to do and does it the right way then we’ll be playing the rest of the season and have a great year," said Kavanagh.
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