SMRHL Update - September 2, 2020

SMRHL Members:

The Safety Committee made a motion to the Executive of SMRHL this past week that required approval to postpone the 2020/21 season to January 1, 2021 at the earliest.  The committee will review the postponement in December in order to finalize a decision on the remainder of the season.  If able to start in January, it is possible to play a 14 game schedule and a short modified playoff to be completed by the end of April 2021.

The decision to postpone was complicated by the hockey being played by private arenas.  Although their summer hockey was modified quite drastically, they are beginning to move towards normal hockey especially with ViaSport modifying Phase 3 Return to Sport allowing competitive play.  Unfortunately, The City of Surrey has provided all users of city owned arenas a set of unrealistic guidelines to follow if they wish to rent the facility.

Highlights of the guidelines:

Players will come dressed and will be allowed to use dressing room to put on skates only.
Players will come 10 minutes prior and leave 10 minutes after 1 hour.
Participants will line up outside the building using physical distancing signage and markings on the ground.
The host will walk you to your assigned dressing room(s)
On ice participation should be skill development only; no game play or formal competition will be allowed.
The players benches will not be available for use
Washrooms and showers will not be available in dressing rooms.
 
The executive voted and approved the postponement until January 1. Hopefully by December, The City will have relaxed the above guidelines that will allow for the league to continue early in January 2021.  The City has guaranteed our ice time for the fall of 2021.  Stay tuned and Stay safe.

Safety Committee