Community sports cohort game play is on pause for now in Metro Vancouver after new restrictions announced Saturday by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry due to an alarming rise in COVID-19 numbers.
Indoor sports, such as ice hockey and ringette, have reverted back to training only under viaSport BC’s Return to Play Plan until at least Nov. 23.
The Pacific Junior Hockey League played cohort games on Saturday night, including the Delta Ice Hawks’ 4-1 win at North Vancouver.
The two teams were slated to meet again on Tuesday in Ladner. Three other Ice Hawk games will also be postponed over the two-week period.
Although outdoor sports were not mentioned in the order, youth soccer, minor football and field lacrosse cancelled games on Sunday and will wait for further clarification.
“South Delta United is following the lead of the (BC Coastal Soccer League) and (BC Premier Soccer League) and cancelling all SDU games and soccer activities on Nov. 8 in order to ensure the safety of our players, coaches and community which is of paramount importance to us,” the club announced Sunday on social media.
The Vancouver Mainland Football League cancelled its Sunday schedule, while the Pacific Coast Field Lacrosse League took it a step further, announcing it will not proceed with cohort games and regular practices until the week of Nov. 23 at the earliest.
“The BC Lacrosse Association is working closely with viaSport BC who works in conjuction with the Provincial Health authorities to keep us apprised of the recent situation. The health and safety for all participants in the BC Lacrosse community is paramount and is central to the BCLA’s decisions around COVID-19 and Return to Lacrosse activities."
As of Monday morning, BC School Sports was awaiting clarification, although current fall sports programs are limited to just training among cohort groups within each school.
