Nets to be put away at community rinks, hockey ‘not permitted’: City of Saskatoon

Pickup games of shinny won’t be seen on the ice at Saskatoon’s outdoor rinks, according to the City of Saskatoon.

“Since the current provincial public health order clearly states that hockey is not permitted, the recommendation from City of Saskatoon Community Development has been that nets be put away on the rinks for the next three weeks to discourage hockey being played,” city spokesperson Allison Collins told 650 CKOM on Monday.

The order applies to both indoor and outdoor rinks within the City of Saskatoon:

• Therefore, any kind of organized or pick-up hockey during designated public skating times will not be permitted on outdoor ice rinks. Please remove any hockey nets from your rinks and store them away so they cannot be brought out for use at any time.
• You are not allowed to rent out your rink to any groups for any use at this time.
• The maximum allowable number of participants allowed on the outdoor ice rink at any one-time is 30 individuals, as per current outdoor gathering restrictions. 

• Spectators are allowed around the outside of the rink. Members of household groups can gather together, with a minimum of two metres between household groups – side to side and front to back.

• Outside of public skating times, groups of no more than 8 individuals, under the age of 18, can participate in hockey skills conditioning and training, (pucks and sticks can be used) as long as 3m physical distancing can be maintained. If physical distancing cannot be maintained in this scenario it is recommended that all participants wear a mask.

All equipment available to the public will need to be cleaned and disinfected regularly, according to the city’s recommendations.

The restrictions are to be in place until Dec. 17.

650 CKOM spoke to Ryan Vanjoff earlier Monday, before the decision was made by the city on the outdoor ice rinks.

Vanjoff is the president of the River Heights Community Association, as well as its rink co-ordinator.

He said the city has been supporting the association, providing it with COVID-friendly signage.

He said he didn’t have any sense that rinks wouldn’t be allowed to house hockey this winter.

“I would hope the city would allow us to stay open through COVID. Certainly it’s the personal responsibility of everybody to keep their distance (and) wear a mask. There’s a lot of fun that can be had outside this winter (and) we’re hoping to be a part of that,” he said.

“We’ve been incredibly busy this first week … day and night. Unfortunately, high school students aren’t in class every day. That has driven a lot of traffic to the ODR’s.”

The City of Saskatoon has 52 community rinks within city limits.