With more and more of the hockey season slipping away, at least one junior A team in B.C. is pleading with public health officials for a chance to play.
Junior hockey is on hold as current COVID-19 health and safety guidelines prevent adults from practising and playing games. The B.C. Hockey League recently announced that it , and is investigating the option of , possibly Penticton.
In the meantime, the Nanaimo Clippers are appealing to politicians and public health officials to reconsider or adjust guidelines to accommodate junior hockey.
Clippers owner Wes Mussio pointed to the team香蕉视频直播檚 18-game exhibition season this past fall, which he said was safe and socially distanced and resulted in no COVID-19 exposure.
香蕉视频直播淵et Dr. Bonnie Henry decided to shut us down on no evidence or science,香蕉视频直播� Mussio said in a press release. 香蕉视频直播淪imply put, this decision is hard to understand.香蕉视频直播�
He added that players香蕉视频直播� aspirations of moving on to college and pro hockey are being 香蕉视频直播渟everely compromised香蕉视频直播� and that the outlook is bleak for players in their final year of junior eligibility.
香蕉视频直播淚 doubt anyone can argue, in good conscience, that destroying careers of young [athletes] is perfectly acceptable for the greater good,香蕉视频直播� Mussio said.
Darren Naylor, coach and general manager of the Clippers, agreed that the 香蕉视频直播渓ockdowns香蕉视频直播� on sports are 香蕉视频直播渃atastrophic香蕉视频直播� to athletes. He said junior hockey shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have the same pandemic restrictions as men香蕉视频直播檚 league hockey, for example.
香蕉视频直播淲e are a very professional, high-level training program where the players act like pros and do not run around going to parties and bars socializing,香蕉视频直播� Naylor said in the release. 香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檙e very committed and realize minimizing exposure to the public is the safest way to ensure a season.香蕉视频直播�
The Clippers shared copies of letters sent by No. 1 goalie Jordan Naylor and veteran defenceman Trevor LeDonne to Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson, pleading for her help in asking for reconsideration of the provincial health order banning adults from team sport participation.
香蕉视频直播淲ithout being able to practise or compete and prove myself deserving of a scholarship, I feel my dream slipping away,香蕉视频直播� Jordan Naylor wrote. 香蕉视频直播淎s a 20-year-old, I have no more time. It香蕉视频直播檚 now or never for me.香蕉视频直播�
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Mussio also wrote to Malcolmson requesting her support in reconsideration of that particular public health order, as well as asking for financial support from the province. He said in the release that the hockey club is losing 香蕉视频直播渉undreds of thousands of dollars this year香蕉视频直播� and predicts junior A hockey franchises will fold in 2021.
He added that smaller communities like Nanaimo are harmed without the 香蕉视频直播渏oy香蕉视频直播� that hockey games bring.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e heard from many hockey fans that coming to a Clippers game is the highlight of their week and without hockey, their mental health is declining,香蕉视频直播� Mussio said. 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 blame them because this is our national sport and not being able to enjoy it is a tremendous sacrifice.香蕉视频直播�
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