The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has received approval from the Government of Alberta to restart the 2020-21 Season under the protocols of a comprehensive Return to Play Plan.

Players, coaches and support staff are currently self-isolating in preparation for Training Camp, which is scheduled to begin at the start of March. Competition will also begin in March and include game play exclusively on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through to the end of May.

“We are grateful for the guidance provided by Alberta Health Services and our Chief Medical Officer in developing the protocols required to safely resume the season for our athletes,” said AJHL Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk. “Thank you to the Government of Alberta for the opportunity to allow our athletes to develop and excel here in Alberta, and to all 15 AJHL teams for the significant dedication to your players and communities across the province.”

AJHL teams have committed to utilizing private PCR testing through DynaLIFE on a weekly basis throughout the remainder of the season as well as twice before commencing Training Camp. DynaLIFE testing was used by the NHL during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and by the IIHF for the 2021 World Junior Championship in Edmonton, AB.

Following the results of two negative COVID-19 tests, and assurance that individuals are asymptomatic as per the SureHire Risk Assessment Program, team members will proceed to team activity at Training Camp. If a member of the AJHL cohort - players or staff - test positive for COVID-19 at any point in the season, the team will be required to isolate and suspend all in-person team activities for 14 days.

Enhanced daily screening for all AJHL players and team staff will be monitored through the SureHire Risk Assessment App. Teams will be diligent in following the Government of Alberta’s COVID-19 Public Health Guidelines in order to best protect themselves and our AJHL communities.

Spectators are not currently permitted at AJHL games due to provincial restrictions; however, all games will be broadcast on HockeyTV.

The AJHL completed over 80 games in the opening months of the 2020-21 season before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a pause. An updated League Schedule and a list of participating teams will be announced shortly.

The Village of Rockyford council was pleased to have MLA for Olds-Didsbury- Three Hills and Speaker of the Legislature, Nathan Cooper appear at their Council Meeting.
At the Wednesday, February 10, Rockyford Council Meeting, MLA Cooper appeared as delegation via video conferencing.
“Nathan, about once a year attends our council meetings and gives us an update on what is happening in the province, and we talk about constituency conversations and local issues. I am a big proponent of connections with our MLA’s and MP’s, and I feel it is an obligation to be in contact with the local municipal elected official because we are the boots on the ground of what is happening locally,” said Rockyford Mayor Darcy Burke.
He said the discussion centred around the pandemic and how it has impacted local business and non-profit groups and the inability to have social functions.
“We recognize the province has helped out financially, and the federal government has too. We certainly approve that the government has moved forward with the reopening plan based on hospitalization rates. At least there is something now in black and white for Albertans to look at,” said Burke.
Another topic discussed was the takeover of 911 dispatch by AHS.
“A few years ago, our dispatch was transitioned to AHS, and there are issues. Some of those flags being raised are very similar things we experienced, and it is still ongoing, but it is getting better,” he said. “At the end of the day, AHS dispatch will never be able to perform their job as efficiently as the local dispatch centres can.”
Burke said the savings ffrom this change were negligible.
”I said to Nathan, in a provincial budget, $5 million? This is not big money. At the end of the day, you need to ensure lives mean more than a document that involves words of a study.”
Burke says he welcomes the visit by Cooper, and the level of engagement he brings to the local councils.