Tucker Hockey Statement

Information Bulletin – No: 7

Dated: Monday June 15th, 2020

Subject:  2020 Summer Programs – “Green Light to Start Up!!”

To Our Loyal Tucker Hockey Participants, Parents, and Hockey Friends:

GENERAL COMMENTS:

Firstly, we wish to express our “heart felt thank you and gratitude” to you for staying the course with us during these trying times! It’s been a struggle for everyone but we are finally seeing the light again!

Last week we received some awesome news! Rinks will now open in Stage 2 rather than Stage 3. So our Summer Group Programs (August & September) are back on schedule. At Tucker Hockey we are excited about the optimistic news but are proceeding with caution in the weeks ahead.

Safety is of paramount importance for everyone during these uncertain times.

STATUS OF 2020 SPRING PROGRAMS:

You may be wondering about our Spring Programs that were cancelled back in April. Due to practical and logistical reasons – all of our Spring programs (April – June) are CANCELLED. We will not be extending these programs into late June or July. Rather our main focus and top priority moving forward is to dedicate our time and energies towards ensuring the proper and safe set up for a very busy successful season of Summer hockey development.

We are still busy working through issuing the credits from the cancelled Spring programs. If you have a credit from a Spring program and have not yet received your credit code please go ahead and register for the summer program(s) of your choice. When registering, ensure you put in the comments of your registration that you have a Spring Program Credit that you would like to use towards your registration. We will process your registration with your credit and advise if there is a balance left. For further clarification, please click on link provided to see our cancellation refund policy that was released on Wednesday April 8, 2020.

https://staging.tuckerhockey.com/https-www-tuckerhockey-com-p6231/

Community vs. City Rinks Openings: 

All of our Summer Programs will be operating out of City owned areas. Prior to the pandemic we were booked into the Stew Hendry / Henry Viney Arena Complex. Currently, the City of Calgary is taking a thoughtful and fiscally responsible approach to opening ice surfaces at arenas based on the cost to operate facilities and public demand. The City of Calgary is looking to open some facilities as soon as the necessary resources and processes are in place to safely resume operations. Their plan will ensure staff are trained to meet Covid – 19 guidelines and are qualified and properly certified to run arenas for the safety and enjoyment of Calgarians.

So we are waiting on updates in the days ahead from the City of Calgary Parks & Recreation to confirm:

  • What rinks will open?
  • When the rinks open?
  • How will the rinks be open to the general public with health guidelines / protocols?

Note: Since the City of Calgary oversees the operation of many ice surfaces in the city, it will probably take a little longer for the City rinks to start up versus smaller 1 or 2 ice sheet community arena operated facilities. There are still many unanswered questions with the re – opening plan of City arena facilities but we are optimistic that our start-up dates scheduled for August 4th at Stew Hendry / Henry Viney will not be an issue.

ALBERTA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITIES GUIDELINES:

We have been reviewing the Alberta Health Authorities guidelines and protocols for safety and physical distancing on the ice. Our interpretations of their guidelines so far are as follows:

  • While the government has permitted facilities to open (with restrictions), the final decision is still remains with the rink operators.
  • Rink operators will be responsible for the protocols in their buildings.
  • Rink operators will require participants to sign a liability waiver (Our Tucker Hockey programs will too.)
  • Participants / parents will be required to fill out a mandatory Covid -19 self declaration forms for facility/ on ice program access.
  • Program operators must keep daily attendance records for contract tracing purposes.
  • The recommendation is that players come dressed to the arena. Locker room access may have limited use.
  • Masks are encouraged prior to the on ice skate but not needed during the session.
  • Cohort – a “closed”, small group of no more than 50 individuals who participate in the same group / activity have been approved. The cohort group includes ALL on ice instructors as well.
  • Spectators may be admitted above the 50 number with physical distancing, determined by the facility but it’s not clear yet.
  • As well we are not sure how social distancing requirements (maintaining a distance of 6 feet) may adversely affect some of our on ice curriculum’s and hockey development drills. We will be figuring it out as we move forward prior to the start up of our on ice Summer programs.
  • Tucker Hockey will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis over the Summer. We will issue additional information bulletins in July as well as our own “Tucker Hockey Back to the Rink Guidelines” which will meet the criteria outlined by the provincial health experts and the City of Calgary rink operators.

At Tucker Hockey we will be diligent in the days ahead. We will pass on to you the appropriate health guidelines for parents and players as well as any logistical issues / on ice curriculum tweaks deemed necessary due to social distancing requirements. We are all keen to get back on the ice, but the safety of each player, each parent, each on ice instructor and each off ice support staff is of paramount importance as we return to hockey again. So please be patience as we review, assess and become more familiar with the new hockey development world which we have inherited.  

2020 SUMMER PROGRAM POLICIES & DIRECTIVES:

For any Summer registrations, we will no longer be cancelling and issuing credits as indicated in our previous statement. As well, if you had requested to be moved from an August Summer program to a September Summer program but now wish to move back to your original August Summer program please email programs@tuckerhockey.com. We will not be adjusting any registrations back to their originally registered August Summer program unless requested by the participant / parent.

At this time, we are open and accepting online registrations for all our Summer Group Programs which are listed with program descriptions on our website tuckerhockey.com. We have a broad range of dates, times and on ice curriculum’s to fit your schedule, varied interests and hockey development needs.  For many programs, we are likely limiting the number of skaters to 15 – 20 at this time due to possible social distancing restrictions and the logistics of running the programs safely on the ice.

We are now accepting program registrations on a first come first serve basis.

So don’t be disappointed – register today!!

2020 SUMMER PROGRAMS SCHEDULED:

Minor Group Programs start – Tuesday August 4th, 2020

  • Week 1 – Tuesday August 4th to Friday August 7th, 2020
  • Week 2 – Monday August 10th to Friday August 14th, 2020
  • Week 3 – Monday August 17th to Friday August 21st, 2020
  • Week 4 – Monday August 24th to Friday August 28th, 2020
  • Week 5 – Monday August 31st to Friday September 4th, 2020
  • Week 6 – Tuesday September 8th  to Friday September 11th, 2020
  • Week 7 – Monday September 14th to Friday September 18th, 2020

Adult Group Programs start – Monday August 17th, 2020

  • Week 1 – Monday August 17th to Friday August 21st, 2020
  • Week 2 – Monday August 24th to Friday August 28th, 2020
  • Week 3 – Monday August 31st to Friday September 4th, 2020
  • Week 4 – Tuesday September 8th  to Friday September 11th, 2020

STAY HEALTHY & SAFE:

Even though we have received the green light to start up Stage 2 of the recovery, we have to proceed with caution. We must remain informed and continue to be vigilant in the days ahead to ensure we progress, not regress, with this pandemic.

The local government websites below are updated daily with information to help you with any concerns you may have about COVID – 19 and health guidelines / restrictions etc.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT:                                             Alberta.ca

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT:                                              Calgary.ca

Team work has been of paramount importance over the last 3 months. With our strong team work and cooperation, we are beating this challenge and will continue to thrive in the days ahead.

If you are submitting an inquiry to us, please be patient with receiving a response as we have been experiencing a higher then usual volume of requests / registrations. 

We thank you again for all of your support, understanding, and cooperation as we continue navigate this pandemic alongside you.

Hockey and Smiles!

Trust we will see you at the local rink in August!

Coach Rex & Tucker Hockey Team

PS Coaching Tip:

When you love something, the longer you have to wait for something, the more you will appreciate it when it finally arrives.