Public Health Measures put in place as a result of the Chief
Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Order issued on November 12.
The questions in this FAQ are based on the recent Public Health Measures put in place as a result of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Order issued on November 12. Violation of a public health order is subject to fines up to $1,000 and it is imperative all members review and communicate these measures with their players and families.
1. Can players, coaches or officials that reside in a community with additional measures (Ban on indoor group fitness classes & team sports) participate in hockey activities in a community that does not have additional health measures? Individuals are to follow the guidelines and restrictions for the community in which they live and should not be travelling from affected communities to non-affected communities at this time. Any individual traveling to a community with no additional health measures, for the purpose of participating in hockey activity, would be in violation of a public health order and subject to fine.
2. Outdoor sports are not included in the restrictions. Are teams allowed to hold practices and games on outdoor rinks? Attending or hosting outdoor sports activities such as hockey, luge, ringette would be allowed but the use of locker rooms is prohibited.
3. Will leagues continue to work with MHAs/ Teams to schedule and group teams not affected by the restrictions? The recent announcement has had a varying impact on leagues throughout Alberta. We have consulted with our league leaders and are working closely to support individual plans that make sense for specific circumstances.
4. If our league decides not to schedule games from November 13-27, and our community does not have additional measures, are we free to schedule exhibition games? Practice and competition are permitted for communities not identified to have additional measures but the current guidelines of cohort maximum of 50 participants and 14-day breaks when switching cohorts must be followed. Playing exhibition games may create challenges as leagues build new schedules for the return on November 28 and communication with your league should be had prior to applying for any exhibition sanctions.
5. Are ice sessions allowed using physical distancing in areas that have additional measures? Ice hockey activities are not permitted between November 13-27 in the communities and counties identified to have additional measures.
6. Who should we contact if we identify operators or individuals acting outside the public heath order? Violations of Public Health Orders are subject to fines up to $1,000 and complaints can be submitted to the Public Health Inspectors by Clicking Here. A person is prohibited from attending and an operator of a business or entity is prohibited from providing or hosting an indoor group high-intensity or low intensity fitness activity or an indoor sport activity in the Calgary Metropolitan Region, Edmonton Metropolitan Region, City of Grande Prairie, City of Lethbridge, City of Fort McMurray and City of Red Deer, in the Province of Alberta.
7. If a player resides in a community that does not have additional health measures but plays on a team within a community that does, is that player able to take part in ice sessions in their local community? The player would not be permitted to join another sanctioned Team (and therefore cohort). If the player wishes to skate in their local community on private or public ice, they would be doing so without the support of the Hockey Canada insurance program. AHS TARGETED PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES UPDATE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
8. Why is the AJHL still playing games within communities that have additional health measures in place? The AJHL has established a return to play plan under the Government of Alberta’s ‘Junior, Collegiate and University League Guidance’. They have established additional measures to mitigate the risk of transmission that aligns with that guidance and, according to AHS, Leagues operating under that guidance are exempt from the new Targeted Health Measures.