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By Caden Fanshaw

SPORTS

Local sports looking for ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ after new restrictions

Dec 4, 2020 | 4:22 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – There are a number of local sports organizations affected by the latest health order, and it’s not just the adults feeling the effects.

All adult team sports are currently banned in BC, ordered by Dr. Bonnie Henry, including the PG Rec Hockey League, and the Prince George Golf and Curling Club who just got started a few short weeks ago.

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All of these sports and more, banned for adults, with the youth activities also taking a hit.

ViaSport has skated back into phase 2 of their ‘Return to Play’ rules, meaning there won’t be any more games for Prince George Minor Hockey players until further notice, instead only practices will be allowed.

President of the Prince George Rec Hockey League, Al Hines says while he’s not surprised with the new restrictions, he feels like the rug has been pulled out from under him.

“We had 550 adults that were registered and playing hockey, doing all they were supposed to be doing,” says Hines. “We did not have any COVID exposures or outbreaks because of our league.”

Hines puts partial blame for the cancellation on the hockey team in BC’s interior identified by Dr. Bonnie Henry Thursday who traveled to Alberta breaking the ‘no-travel’ rule and causing dozens of cases of COVID-19.

“It’s just amazing to me, I’m sure that the gentlemen who decided very selfishly to go over to Alberta and play in a tournament bringing COVID-19 back into their community and to their families will be pretty badly ostracized,” says Hines. “At least I would hope, it’s unbelievable for them to have thought that was okay.”

The new order also splits junior hockey clubs seemingly right down the middle. The order says anyone 19 and older may not participate in the same way those aged 18 and under might.

The BCHL says the league will not comment until further clarification is released from ViaSport which is the body that oversees sport in BC next week.

The Prince George Golf and Curling Club is also still sweeping away at what their future plan may be for over 250 curlers.

The club says they still aren’t sure what they may do with their junior curling program.

Although things may be in disarray at the moment, Hines along with others like the PG Golf and Curling Club say there is a light at the end of the tunnel. All hoping things can slowly return to normal in early 2021.