The Whitehorse Minor Hockey Association (WMHA) was forced to shut down some games due to COVID-19 recently.

As reported in the Star on Friday, the U9 division was shut down Oct.23 and the U7 Division was shut down the following week. Three U9 ice times on Saturday Oct 23 and two U9 ice times on Sunday Oct. 24 were canceled, as well as skill sessions on Monday.

The U9 division started up again the following weekend.

“We didn’t play any games, just to be sure. We just kept everybody with their own teams. We didn’t want the players intermingling just because the 14 days hadn’t been up. So the kids that were affected stayed away from the rink and we just kept everyone else in their teams,” related WMHA President Jeff Frizzell.

The U9 division was back to normal this past weekend with games on Sunday and Skills Groups on Monday.

The U7 only has ice times on Tuesdays and Sundays, so only last Tuesday’s ice times were missed.

“We got a letter from the CDC with information on each team, with what they had to do, so some teams were good, didn’t have any cases, some teams had to self-monitor for symptoms, and then ... one team had to isolate, just because that was the one team that had the (COVID) case, but they only had to miss one ice time on the Tuesday,” explained Frizzell.

The WMHA got the OK to start up again this past Sunday, but one U7 team didn’t return to action Sunday – the one with the COVID case.

“They want to be sure and just keep them off the ice and have them self-monitor,” said Frizzell. He wasn’t willing to disclose the team’s name due to confidentiality reasons. The U7 team will be back on the ice Tuesday barring any more COVID-related setbacks.

Measures are being taken to ensure future games can be played.

“We’re being really careful at the rink,” stated Frizzell. “We’re asking our U7, U9, U11 players who aren’t vaccinated to come to the rink dressed and just use the dressing room to put on their skates and helmet just so that we can limit the amount of time the kids are in the dressing room together, so they just get dressed really quick and just go out to the bench and wait and try to self-distance as much as possible.

“Even though it’s not a city requirement at the CGC to wear masks, or at Takhini Arena to wear masks, we’ve asked ... even our parents, when they’re comin’ in, just to wear masks when they’re there for hockey reasons. We’ve asked all players and coaches to be masked up the entire time until they step onto the ice just to lessen the chance of anyone else getting infected.

Frizzell doesn’t see an end to the COVID situation happening anytime soon.

“This is going to continue,” he predicted. “I don’t see this stopping until the kids can get the vaccine. We’re expecting more cases. The kids are all at school all day at different classes, and different cases are popping up in all the ... elementary schools right now.

“We’re just constantly sending out reminders to everybody – if you have symptoms, stay home, wear your masks, come dressed.

“And we’re in close contact with the CDC, so if there is a positive case, we’ve asked the player’s parents to contact the coach immediately and then the CDC have been really quick at responding as well to get in touch with us so we’re aware and can proceed,” added Frizzell.

Not surprisingly, the latest mandates imposed by the Yukon government requiring a first vaccine shot by Nov. 30 and a second jab by Jan. 30 have affected the WMHA.

“We’ve sent out messages to all of our coaches that – everybody is aware that Nov. 30 you need to be vaccinated to take part in organized sports, so that includes all our coaches and any players that are eligible for the vaccine. It doesn’t affect our U7, U9, U11, but it affects our U13, U15, U18. So I’ve got a few messages from coaches that have inquired how it affects them. If they’re not going to get the vaccine, then ... they need to be vaccinated to step on the ice and have any part of Whitehorse Minor Hockey,” related Frizzell.

And if someone refuses to get the vaccine?

“Hockey Yukon –which we run under – they sent out a survey about two weeks ago to all of our membership, and it was a very simple, three or four question survey just asking ‘after the government-imposed mandate of vaccines, are you still prepared to volunteer in Whitehorse Minor Hockey? Will your child still take part in Whitehorse Minor Hockey?’ The percentage of people that will continue is very high. Like, there was a very small percentage that said no. I haven’t had any coaches as of yet contact me and say they would not be getting the vaccines. So as of right now, I haven’t heard of anybody that wouldn’t be continuing with Whitehorse Minor Hockey as a volunteer after Nov. 30.

“The closer this Nov. 30 date comes, I’m sure you will be hearing more, but as of right now, Whitehorse Minor Hockey hasn’t had anybody withdraw their volunteer time.”