Local minor hockey rep games are pausing amidst uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic.
The York Simcoe Minor Hockey League (YSMHL) — which includes teams from Orillia — is cancelling all regular-season rep games until Jan. 3. Teams can still practise and take part in off-ice functions, but games for many of them will be on hold.
“This is probably coming as no surprise given the number of associations already requesting action to be taken and/or who are taking action themselves,” YSMHL president Eric Kopsala said in a message to associations.
“Timing is critical, hence our decision to pause programming now," he added.
The cancellations will extend until Dec. 23, when the league’s regular holiday break comes into play.
The Orillia Minor Hockey Association has informed its members of the move.
The Orillia association is also allowing all upcoming house-league games and practices to proceed as scheduled.
The province is facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, in part due to the omicron variant. New public health measures are expected to come forward, with some regional health units putting new restrictions in place.
Kopsala said the pause is an important step so that all players in isolation can finish it by Christmas and start their seasons in January in much better shape.
“This has been a very difficult decision which we recognize takes away one of the very few activities our players have that seem normal,” he said. “It is our belief that this 10-day pause will affect 'a reset” effectively allowing hockey to resume with the maximum number of players and teams in the new year.”
