Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture, said this week that sports organizations will have to take unprecedented steps to limit physical contact as part of an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In hockey, that would mean removing body checking if leagues want their players to hit the ice during the pandemic.
That new, unexpected decree creates another challenge for the Orillia Terriers Jr. C Hockey Club which has been planning to get the Ontario Provincial Hockey League season underway on Dec. 1.
“If that’s what they are going to make us do, then it is what it is,” said Terriers coach Dallyn Telford.
Telford hopes that if there is no body contact for the upcoming season, players should be given an adjustment period.
“The players have been used to playing with body contact at a high level since they were 12 or 13 years old,so to shut that off automatically will be a tough thing to do,” he said.
“Hopefully, there would be a warning system put in place by officials, where the first offence would be a warning and the second would be a penalty.”
Telford acknowledges that removing physical contact could be a game-changer for teams who are built on size and toughness, especially later into the season and into the playoffs.
“Physicality over a seven-game series becomes a factor. If teams have built their roster around playing a more physical way, I would say they are in trouble,” he said.
Fortunately, the Terriers' team-building strategy this offseason wasn’t based around the physical aspect of the game; the players they have added bring more speed and skill to the rink.
“We are pretty fortunate this year where everyone on our team can skate ... this is the most skilled team we’ve had,” Telford said.
Telford says no matter what the COVID protocols look like when the puck drops on the new season, the Terriers will be able to adapt.
“I think (general manager) Andrew (McDonald) has done a good job building this team where we should be able to play any style of hockey,” he said.
Although Telford is planning for a 24-game season followed by a regular playoff format, he has considered the possibility that there will be no season at all.
“I think everyone has that in the back of their mind, but the reason we are practising as hard as we are is to be ready if a season does happen,” he said.
Telford says that in the event of all games being cancelled this year, having his players continue practising and competing against each other would be important for their future.
“These kids can’t miss a year of development. Our job is to make sure we can get them to the highest level possible,” Telford said.
The Terriers' mindset is to stay positive despite the pandemic delaying their season, and creating many new challenges.
“We come to the rink with a positive mindset, we come here to work and to help each other, everything else is what it is," Telford said.
