Updated March 18, 2020
Dear League Members,
Due to the recent “Shelter in Place” order issued by Bay Area county officials, we are suspending use of the remainder of ice slots for the Winter 2019-2020 season. For more information on the mandate, please refer to this helpful article:
Sheltering in Place: What You Need to Know
We support everyone doing their part to flatten the curve. Please stay safe and healthy. We will keep you informed of any updates as they become available.
Regards,
NCWHL Board
Updated March 13, 2020
Dear NCWHL,
After careful consideration, we’ve decided to cancel the remainder of our winter season. We feel obligated to do our part in implementing social distancing and not placing skaters at unnecessary risk. Avoiding a crowded locker room will help us achieve this goal.
Through March 21, 2020, we will cancel remaining games, the pre-evals skill clinic (originally scheduled March 17), and the Leaguewide Scrimmage (originally scheduled March 21). We plan to push evaluation sessions back by 2 weeks. We’ll work on an updated schedule and share with you all soon.
Ice the Next 2 Weeks
As we have purchased ice through the 21st, if you are a skater registered this season, you are welcome to use in a non-official capacity as a stick and shoot or pick up scrimmage. We will not have any scorekeepers or referees at these sessions. These will be skate at your own risk events.
Ice Oasis (both San Mateo and Redwood City locations) is looking to modify their schedule for the next week or 2 to implement robust cleaning procedures every 2 hours. If our ice slots get moved, we will notify you.
Our Ask to Protect our Community
We all have a responsibility to look out for each other and to stay away from the rinks if sick or exhibiting ANY symptoms. From the WHO website: Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover.
If you are confirmed to have COVID-19 or if you’re suspected to have it, and you have recently participated in an NCWHL event, or if you are at the rink in the next couple of weeks with other league skaters, please email ncwhl.main@gmail.com. We recognize the sensitivity around this and will ensure your privacy. It’s important for us to notify others to limit the possible exposure to our community. Your identity will be held private as we communicate in broad terms such as “a X division skater” or “a participant at X ice slot.” Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Next Season
Evals start next Sunday, but are postponed, as well as the start of the next season. It is our plan and hope to offer a full-length summer season as soon as that makes sense. We will update once we have more information.
General Meeting
The General Meeting (April 11) has been canceled for now. We will evaluate alternatives such as a video meeting/written update. We look forward to scheduling a face-to-face meeting and social event with everyone in the near future! As a not for profit, we have an obligation to hold an annual meeting and elections. Elections for all Board positions, which usually take place at the General Meeting may need to be held online, so look for that to come in your email.
As we continue to get more information, the League will relay updates via email, Facebook and the Weekly newsletter.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Whitney Kirschbrown on behalf of NCWHL Board
March 8, 2020
Dear All,
Our League will be continuing to hold games, practices, and soon, placement sessions in San Mateo and Redwood City. In response to the coronavirus/COVID19 outbreak, we recommend that we follow guidances put forth by the CDC and WHO, as well as adhere to a list of recommendations from USA Hockey, which can be found here: https://www.usahockey.com/playersafety.
Beyond not showing up to the rink when you’re sick, and practicing good hygiene such as frequent hand-washing, some ‘hockey specific’ practices that should be followed for the foreseeable future include:
- Handshake lines after games should include fist bumps with gloves on
- Use individual water bottles; do not share them
- Towels should not be shared in any way
If you don’t feel comfortable participating in a game or practice, please notify your captains of your absence. Thanks for helping ensure the NCWHL community remains safe and healthy!
Best Regards,
Whitney Kirschbrown
NCWHL President
