The Manitoba Junior Ice want to ensure the safety of our players, coaches, officials, staff and spectators. Below you will find an outline of the rules and protocols that Manitoba Junior Ice will follow and encourage at their games, practices, tournaments and around facilities, they’re playing within.
Protocols for Playing Surfaces:
1. On-Ice Practices
When entering and exiting the ice, dressing rooms etc., coaches and players are to stagger respectively in order to maintain social distancing. Coaches are to monitor this.
In all matters of activities, players and coaches must observe physical distancing recommendations. It is the responsibility of everyone to minimize close interactions with each other. This should be practiced while on the ice, in dressing rooms, on the bench, in the waiting area, bathrooms, parking lots etc.
Minimize and avoid huddles/board talks where players and coaches come into close proximity of one another.
A limit of 10 persons on the bench at all times is to be respected, including coaches and players. 5 players shall remain on the ice, 5 players shall be up at the board, and 5 players shall remain at the back of the bench. Extra goalies are to stand outside of the bench in a socially distanced manner.
2. Game Protocols
Referees are encouraged to reduce the amount of time players are in close contact with one another when several players are involved by blowing the whistle. Players are to immediately disperse from each other after the whistle is blown.
During face offs, all parties involved are to remain distanced from each other until the whistle is blown and players can take their desired stance for the puck drop.
3. Bench/Penalty box Protocol
Gates are encouraged to be opened and closed by the same individual and to wear gloves in order to minimize surface contact.
A stiff penalty will be enforced if individuals are caught spitting on the bench in the form of a penalty. Dismissal from the ice may also be warranted. Time-keepers are encouraged to wear masks while working within the penalty box area. Referees should communicate with off-ice officials through the gate as opposed to using the hole in the box.
Handshakes are not permitted by all participants including coaches, staff, players, and officials. Players will not, fist bump, hug or shake hands prior, during, and following a game.
Ensuring a Healthy Playing Environment
Protocols at each Facility:
All facilities in Manitoba where Manitoba Junior Ice activities are taking place are required to comply with current health and safety standards as prescribed by the Provincial government as it relates to COVID-19. Specifically, arenas must strictly adhere to the regulations set out in the Manitoba Restoring Safe Services plan, under Team Sports and other Recreational Activities.
All staff members, players, parents, guardians and other spectators must use the Province of Manitoba Online Screening Tool before coming to any facility in Manitoba where MJI-sanctioned activities are to take place. Any staff, players, coaches, officials or parents who are feeling ill and showing COVID-19 like symptoms must stay home and not enter any facilities.
The province requires that facilities implement measures to ensure members of the public at the facility are sensibly able to maintain a distance of at least two meters from other members of the public, excluding participants who are playing. Distancing markers should be located throughout facilities.
Links by Facility
Bell MTS Iceplex:
Click here for Iceplex Protocol
Seven Oaks
Click here for Seven Oaks protocols
RINK Training Centre
East End
Click here for East End Arena protocols
Entry and Exit
Players should arrive at facilities no more than 30 minutes prior to their ice time to avoid crossover with other teams and adequate cleaning time. Teams will not be allowed into the facility prior to this.
A maximum of 2 spectators are allowed to be present during the game. These should only be parents or guardians of the participant. Siblings of the participant are encouraged to not attend, but if necessary siblings will not be included in the spectator limit. Young children must sit with parents and be supervised at all times to ensure physical distancing.
Physical distancing should be enforced at the entrances and exits
Players, team staff, officials, spectators should avoid congregating in groups anywhere in or around the facilities.
At the end of games, spectators should leave the facility promptly (within 10 minutes of), being respectful of physical distance and wait for their participant outside.
Hand sanitizer dispensers should be placed at guest entrances and high-contact areas
Concourse
Facilities should have decals on the floor to instruct visitor’s movement using one-way traffic systems
Individuals should always maintain two meters of physical distance when they are in the concourse/lobby areas. Team warm-up and cool-downs are not permitted within the facility
Cleaning/Sanitizing
All facilities must ensure that all cleaning and sanitizing guidelines established by the Province of Manitoba’s health authorities are implemented
Hand sanitizer and /or wipe stations must be readily available in all areas of the facility, including dressing rooms; benches; penalty boxes; score clock; concourse; seating; washrooms; entry/exit points
Regular cleaning must occur in high touch areas (railings, door handles, elevators, etc.)
Teams can assist in keeping facilities clean by encouraging frequent hand washing and avoiding touching surfaces whenever possible
All facility staff should be in the know and updated frequently regarding public safety and all cleaning requirements
Signage outlining health authority guidelines for COVID-19 will be posted
Signage should be located throughout the arena, in relation to physical distancing, frequent hand washing and spectator movement/behavior
Bathrooms
Physical distancing should be enforced by used of physical barriers and signage
Guidelines for the number of people allowed in a public bathroom will be determined by Manitoba’s Public Health Minister
Every second stall or urinal where applicable will be closed to allow for proper physical distancing 10
Bathrooms should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis according to current health and safety standards in the Province of Manitoba
Masks
Manitoba Junior Ice strongly recommends the wearing of proper face masks for all spectators and staff
It is recommended that anyone entering the facility should wear a face mask when physical distancing cannot be followed. The face mask can be removed while participating in a hockey activity and physical distancing is practiced.
Coaches, team staff and off-ice officials should wear face masks where physical distancing is not possible, such as in the dressing room or on the bench. This is a recommendation, but not mandatory.
Equipment
Equipment such as water bottles and towels should not be shared.
Water bottles should be labelled in order to identify who they belong to
Water bottles should be filled at home
Before and after each event water bottles should be cleaned thoroughly
Equipment such as jerseys, pant shells, socks, bandanas/skulls caps and compression gear should be washed after each event
Equipment that is shared (pucks, pylons, etc) must only be handled (using hands) by the owner of the equipment
Dressing Room Protocols
Physical distancing should be enforced
Only team personnel will be allowed in dressing rooms (Coaches, players and medical staff when necessary)
It is recommended that teams use two rooms to physically distance players based on facility availability. If this is not possible, participants would wait until other participants have dressed and switched.
Players should enter dressing rooms no more than 20 minutes prior to games and practices
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes should be available
No food or drink, (other than water bottles) is permitted in the dressing room
Public showers in dressing rooms should not be used
Dressing rooms should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each use by facility staff
Individuals may not share clothing, soap, shampoo or other personal items such as razors and towels.
Washrooms must be limited to one person at a time
Water fountains and other related amenities should not be made accessible
There is a zero-tolerance for spitting in the dressing room, washrooms and anywhere in the facility
Spectator Safety
Physical distancing should be enforced in all areas of the facility.
Signage and messaging should be posted detailing procedures and guidelines to ensure the safety of all spectators and game participants.
Entrance and exit to the facility for spectators should be clearly marked in a directional fashion with team officials on-site to manage the flow of traffic pre-game, post-game and during intermissions.
Spectators must remain in their seats for the duration of the game except for when moving directly to a washroom or exiting the facility.
Spectators should avoid congregating in groups anywhere in the facilities
Seating capacities/configurations will be established for each facility to comply with the Province of Manitoba’s health and safety standards and the necessary physical distancing requirements
Protocol for Symptoms of Covid-19
Should a player or staff member who exhibits symptoms such as a cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat, and has a suspected case of COVID-19, the individual must adhere to the following protocol:
Notify the Head Coach or appropriate team contact person immediately;
The individual will be instructed to be isolated
The individual must contact the local health authority to determine if a COVID-19 test is required;
The individual will remain in isolation until a negative test result is received and/or a minimum period of 14 days;
If the test result is negative, but symptoms continue, the individual will remain isolated until a note from a physician or member of the public health authority confirms the ability to return.
Return to Play Following an Illness
1. If COVID-19 test results are positive the athlete must be given clearance to return to play from physician or member of the public health authority following the designated isolation period
2. The athlete must provide a note from a physician or member of the public health authority to coaching staff/management stating the individual may return to play