The Saskatchewan Hockey Association has been given the go-ahead to begin play later this month after releasing a comprehensive Return to Hockey plan on Thursday afternoon.
The 63-page slate of safety guidelines was put together the approval of the Government of Saskatchewan and will use the provincial governing body to determine if and when each of the five planned phases can advance.
The SHA -- including the Moose Jaw Minor Hockey Association -- is currently in Phase One: Evaluation and Training, with the MJMHA well into the process of selecting teams and preparing for the modified campaign. Tier teams have been chosen, and house league evaluations are taking place at rinks throughout the city during the Thanksgiving weekend.
That all leads up to Phase Two: Exhibition Games (Within a Mini-League).
Slated to begin on Oct. 17 -- like all phases, the plan is contingent on COVID-19 numbers remaining safe and stable in the province -- exhibition games in the Under-13 through Senior division can take place within mini-leagues of four teams or 50 players per league. Teams will be allowed a maximum of two exhibition games, one per day, and will be played in as geographically tight a region as possible to minimize travel.
Exhibition games for the U9 and U11 divisions can begin Nov. 15; U7 on Dec. 1.
Phase Three: League Games (Within a Mini-League) will tentatively begin on Nov. 1.
Mini-leagues will increase to a maximum of six teams or 80 players, with games taking place within each region. Teams are encouraged to play back-to-back games with one opponent in a week, followed by a five-day break before facing the next opponent. The SHA recommends a home-and-home weekend schedule for this purpose.
If teams switch mini-leagues, a 14-day reset period will be needed.
Things will grow further still in Phase Four: League Games (Within an Expanded Mini-league), which will follow the same plan as Phase Three when it comes to scheduling but will allow up to eight teams and 120 players. The tentative start date for the expansion will be Jan. 18.
The final step, Phase Five: Playoffs / Provincials sees a potential start date of Feb. 1 in some divisions, but will largely be determined at that time. All playoff series will be best-of-three and will feature modified game timing procedures, with team proximity determining first-round opponents.
There will be no provincial playoffs in the U7, U9 and U11 divisions.
Tournament play and out-of-province play has been banned across the board.
The SHA also released comprehensive spectator guidelines.
For the Minor U18AA and lower divisions, attendance will be capped at 150 provided enough room exists to provide two metres of physical distancing between household groups, side to side and front to back.
At the U18 AAA, Junior and Senior levels, assigned seating must be made available, and if not available, a maximum of 150 spectators will be allowed. Up to 50 per cent building capacity will be allowed, provided physical distancing can be maintained.
In all cases, spectators mingling outside of their household groups and assigned seating is strongly discouraged.
For the full SHA Return to Hockey document, including all on-ice practice and game guidelines, you can click right here.
