It is finally happening! The Tomcats will return to hockey for a short 4 week season in the month of April, followed by a tournament on Saturday May 1st. “We have not taken this decision lightly,” said Tomcats Board of Directors. “However, looking at the current data in Windsor, considering the length of time that the boys have been off, and with strict protocols in place, this is doable,” explained Rocky.
Here are the rules that must be followed:
- If you have any symptoms associated with COVID, you are asked not to attend
- Obviously, if you have recently tested positive, or been out of Canada in the last 14 days, you are not to play
- Masks must be warn when you enter the Kapusta
- Hand sanitizer will be at the entrance. It must be used before entering
- Seating prior to games will occur throughout the Kapusta floor, so you are distanced while dressing
- Benches will be marked for distance while playing games
- Players with a recent PCR test, or anal swab test, can play without a mask. Others will be required to wear during the games.
- Alternatively, Dave Hann is preparing a concoction, lets call it the Tomcat COVID Elixir. If you drink that prior to each shift, you can remove the mask (NOTE: The Elixir does contain some hand sanitizer)
- During play, you must remain one stick-length apart from any other player. Think May Day stick vs. Snowpant’s stick.
- Any violation of distance will be called by the referee. Sea Lion agreed to attend each night to ref, and will be suspended from ceiling to further create space and distance on the floor. This will give him a great bird’s eye view of the distance between players.
- To further help avoid close play, there is a 2 pass rule. That means teams are expected to wind up and take shot after any two consecutive passes. This will be known as the “Screw Passing and Shoot like Chevy COVID” rule. Slapshots are temporarily being allowed during these times.
- Instead of beer afterwards, the Tomcats will celebrate over cold bottles of bleach. We have it on good authority from a former US President that this is effective in controlling COVID.
If you haven’t figured out by now, Aprils Fool!
Seriously, the Tomcats were holding out to schedule an outdoor game but seems like restrictions are going to get worse today. Probably not likely this Spring but you never know. Keep staying safe and stay tuned.
Windsor Tomcats 