RMHA Return to Hockey Plan, News (Riverside Minor Hockey)

Riverside Minor Hockey has established our Return to Play framework based in part on the OHF and OMHA protocols and procedures which can be found on their respective websites.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions and public health unit requirements baselines including but not limited to the following will be put in place:

1. No travel team tryouts
2. No ratings / tryouts at any level of hockey
3. No travel league games / schedules based on 5 on 5 “regular hockey”
4. No contact on the ice or on the benches; all players will maintain a physical distance as regulated by Public Health.
5. Strict adherence to the safety protocols which will be put in place at all City operated facilities.
6. ALL players will be placed on teams that align with their 2019-20 teams.

Further to this, our intention is to establish a two or three Tier system within RMHA incorporating all players according to their skillset and 2019-20 placements. It is also our intention to create “cohort groups” of players across other associations such as Windsor and Tecumseh for the purpose of modified game play of 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 (details to be finalized).

Our plan is to offer TWO separate sessions that will run consecutively. Sept-December (approx. 12 weeks) and Jan to March (approx. 12 weeks). Players must register for these sessions individually and can choose to opt out of the 2^nd session as they see fit. Players that register for one or both sessions will be allowed to de-register and will be offered a pro-rated refund up to the 6^th week of each session after which time no refunds will be processed.

Each session will consist of skills development for the first 3-4 weeks followed by mini games (3 on 3 or 4 on 4 depending on the number of players). These modified games will ensure on-ice activity and the benches can adhere to the required physical distancing.

We are committed to providing players the best possible on-ice experience by engaging outside instructors such as Licensed Skating instructors and skills development sessions with 519Hockey. These instructors will be utilized during a teams practice ice on a rotating basis and will augment your coach’s instruction / skills practices.

Currently we are working with the City to finalize our ice allocation for the upcoming season and therefore we are unable to commit to a start date, but we hope to be on the ice by mid-September pending ice availability. That information should be finalized sometime week of Aug 24th. It is our hope to provide 2hrs of ice weekly for our Tier 1 players and minimum 1hr of ice weekly for our Tier 2 players. We realize this is less than previous years however the City’s plan for opening arenas as well as our own internal registration numbers will dictate the number of hours that makes the most sense financially.

Our cost model will determine the final registration fees for each session. We will be able to finalize the cost of each session once our registration and ice hours are confirmed. To that end we will end the fall session registration by Sept 7^th. For those that have already registered and paid, you will be contacted regarding your pay structure. For those that have registered and not paid you will be contacted to provide immediate payment prior to your player attending any on-ice activities.

Finally, we continue to work with the City and the OMHA to ensure the safety of our players through the use of Health Questionnaires that must be completed each time your player is on the ice. We will make the forms available on our website however it will be your responsibility to complete the forms, print them and bring them to your practices or games. These are necessary for contact tracing and cannot be avoided. Further instructions will follow. RMHA will also plan an open Zoom meeting call for our members so that you can ask your questions and review these protocols. We thank you for your patience and hope that you will continue to be part of the Ranger Family.