With the provincial lockdown beginning December 26th for a minimum of 28 days, HMHA's pause in our hockey season has been extended.
HMHA will continue to monitor any updates from the provincial government, public health, governing hockey bodies and our local municipality that will have an effect on HMHA and what type of programming we are permitted to offer.
Currently, in the Grey Lockdown Level, we are not permitted to offer any programming and during this time, the Canada Summit Centre is also closed. Dependent on how long our area is under the Grey Control Measures will determine when minor hockey can resume for HMHA.
Basically, there are three scenarios that are possibilities for the remainder of our season at this time:
1. The Grey Lockdown Level restrictions continue for an extended period of time, resulting in the end of the 2020-2021 season December 13, 2020.
2. Our area moves back into the Red Control Level restrictions early enough in the season to allow us to run some modified programming with a maximum of 10 players on the ice at any one time and no games or scrimmages permitted.
3. Our area moves into the Orange Restrict Level restrictions (or below) early enough in the season to allow us to return to the modified programming we were offering prior to the holiday break, including game play, scrimmages and two teams permitted on the ice at one time.
Unfortunately, as there are so many unknowns, it makes it virtually impossible to plan in advance until we are provided with information regarding restrictions that will be imposed in our area after the 28 Lockdown (beginning on December 26th). As soon as we have the information we need to make decisions regarding the remainder of our season, we will work very hard to pull together a plan and will share it with our membership as soon as we have it determined.
In the meantime, we will suspend the third payment installment that was scheduled to be processed on January 4th until we have a plan in place for the remainder of the season. We chose to offer the three installment payment plan this season for a couple of reasons, including a scenario where our season is cut short due to restrictions and in an attempt to keep hockey as affordable as we could for our families in these uncertain times (being able to divide the fee up into more manageable payments). Our Registrar, Amanda Jones, has asked that you contact her if your credit card information has changed:
[email protected]
Important Points Regarding Fees:
Once we know the format of the remainder of our season we will share the following:
-date the third installment will be processed
-amount of the third installment (will be edited accordingly if appropriate due to the remaining length of the season)
-should there be a need for any refunds, we will determine this once the remainder of the season format and timeline is determined - refunds would be applicable for i.e. families who paid the full registration fee at the beginning of the season (if the season is either cancelled or if it is shortened such that we edit the third installment amount); in the U9 Division where the registration fee was based on full ice gameplay after January 15th, adding additional icetime for this division (if this is not possible due to restrictions)
Please rest assured we are working diligently to modify our plans and continue to offer programming to our players if we are able to within the restrictions imposed on us. As well, we have put forth a great deal of effort to make this season work to date and hope to be able to continue - this has been extremely challenging in light of the pandemic and we have worked really hard to consider both safety along with trying to bring as much normal and fun to our hockey program that the restrictions will allow. HMHA has subsidized the cost of hockey for
every division this year - our expenses are higher for several reasons and we have no revenue coming in aside from registration fees. As a board, we made a decision to keep costs as low as possible to make hockey as affordable as we could to get as many kids on the ice during a time when so many activities did not run.
Our goal is to be able to resume programming for the remainder of the season. When we know what we can offer, you will know as well - it will be posted on our website.
Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!
Kelly Farnsworth - HMHA President/OMHA Contact