Concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have iced the 2021 Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament to be held in Whitehorse from March 25-28 for the second year running.

Michelle Dawson-Beattie, the president of the Yukon First Nations Hockey Association, said it was a tough decision for the board to make, but she and the directors want to do their part and lead by example in keeping people safe.

"With the second wave hitting the Yukon, I was not willing to take that risk," said Dawson-Beattie. "God forbid someone got COVID and brought it back to their community. We want to keep communities and the elders safe, so we had to make that decision."

The association said in a press release the majority of tournament participants and fans reside in rural communities within the Yukon and beyond.

Although the decision may seem to have come early, Dawson-Beattie said planning for the Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament would begin soon.

"Normally, we would start to plan the tournament in December," she said. "We have to begin ordering things before registration opens in January."

Instead, Dawson-Beattie said, the board will shift its attention to bettering the tournament.

"We are going to take time and figure out how to enhance the tournament," she said. "We are going to look at the rules and re-work the C division to make it more community-based."

Also, Dawson-Beattie said they will look to establish an A and B sections for the Youth and Jamboree divisions to allow them to become more competitive.

A youth hockey camp is also in the works for the summer of 2021.

"The youth hockey camp, that'll be in June," said Dawson-Beattie. "We will have time to put in a COVID-19 safety plan in anticipation of hosting the camp."

Dawson-Beattie said people had questioned her whether doing the tournament virtually, broadcasting games and eliminating fans, could have been in the cards.

"People did ask if we could livestream the tournament, but admission sales are huge for us," said Dawson-Beattie. "If we did it that way, it would deplete what we have.

"And, even if it was virtual, we would still have people coming in from the communities and possibly bringing COVID back with them."

Dawson-Beattie said the board will be hard at work to ensure the 2022 tournament is the best it can be. For now, the board said in the release, it stands in solidarity with other community leaders who are advising that Yukoners practise "the safe six" and act vigilantly to protect those more vulnerable to infection.