The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League says COVID-19 cases on four teams have led to the postponement of six games.
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Castlegar Rebels, Fernie Ghostriders and Kelowna Chiefs each have positive cases, according to a league announcement Thursday.
The Kelowna Chiefs told Black Press Media that nine of its players have tested positive, and more are expected throughout the week. Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 game Friday at home to the North Okanagan Knights has been postponed.
Castlegar Rebels president Mike Johnstone said eight-to-10 players are exhibiting symptoms. He added not all of them have been tested for COVID-19 as current Interior Heath guidelines don香蕉视频直播檛 allow for testing of double-vaccinated individuals without other risk factors.
香蕉视频直播淚t spread quite quickly around our room and we wanted to cut it off and limit exposure to our players, staff, volunteers and opponents, so the decision was made to cancel the games,香蕉视频直播 said Johnstone.
Nitehawks president Stephen Piccolo said six players had tested positive and are currently in isolation.
香蕉视频直播淥micron is hitting everyone hard it looks like,香蕉视频直播 said Piccolo. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I mean everybody 香蕉视频直播 our fan base, the games that we can香蕉视频直播檛 have, and we香蕉视频直播檙e hoping it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 carry into another season.香蕉视频直播
Other games to be rescheduled include:
香蕉视频直播 Friday, Jan. 7: Beaver Valley Nitehawks at Castlegar Rebels; Grand Forks Border Bruins at Fernie Ghostriders
香蕉视频直播 Saturday, Jan. 8: Castlegar Rebels at Nelson Leafs; Fernie Ghostriders at Columbia Valley Rockies
香蕉视频直播 Sunday, Jan. 9: Golden Rockets at Beaver Valley Nitehawks
The infections come despite the KIJHL香蕉视频直播檚 COVID-19 policy, which required every player and staff member to have received two doses of vaccine prior to the start of the season in October.
The Nitehawks were and had their head coach suspended for eight games when it was revealed two of their players had begun the season not fully vaccinated.
With files from Jen Zielinski in Kelowna, Betsy Kline in Castlegar and Jim Bailey in Trail.