Following a 6-0 win, the U15 AAA Central Storm hockey group was topped Prince Edward Island’s 2020-21 champions.
“We had been so excited! We screamed and we threw our gloves up within the air and it was only a nice expertise.”
The group managed to play each recreation this season with no single loss, stated Petra, who’s 13. However with COVID-19, she stated there have been nonetheless questions on whether or not or not they might get the prospect to play for a championship title.
“At the moment, every part was going good however proper earlier than provincials we type of had a little bit tough patch,” she stated referring to a cluster of COVID-19 circumstances confirmed in Charlottetown and Summerside in March.
“I used to be actually excited we acquired to do provincials as a result of final yr was actually disappointing.”
Throughout Canada, simply 145 hockey groups have to date had the prospect to lace up for minor hockey provincials — and all of these groups are positioned on Prince Edward Island, in keeping with Hockey P.E.I.
Due to stringent public well being administration and the province having controllable entry factors, P.E.I. has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic to date with no deaths and no hospitalizations.
‘The proper determination’
It was March 10 when Hockey P.E.I. introduced its daring determination to finish the rest of this yr’s common season for minor hockey gamers on the Island.
“Wanting again on it, I believe we did make the fitting determination,” stated Connor Cameron, the chief director.
“It was an unpopular determination however on the finish of the day, it is type of a type of issues the place you simply should do what’s proper for probably the most quantity of children and the remaining will come out within the wash.”
Within the midst of a provincewide COVID-19 circuit breaker, the group was caught. On one hand, Cameron stated, nobody needs to be the particular person to inform children on non-playoff groups that their season is over. On the opposite, provincials had been slated to start out March 19 and greater than 250 common season video games nonetheless wanted to be performed.
“It wasn’t attainable,” he stated.
Then there was the difficulty of ice availability — particularly in rural P.E.I.
“Because the climate will get hotter, the invoice goes up considerably for these rinks,” stated Cameron.
“It is a wrestle for these rinks yearly, however this yr particularly, with a two-week shut down in December and one other interruption in March — they had been type of hurting for cash anyway.”
My son is on the group and I do know he was simply dying to get the prospect to play in provincials.— Darcy Harris, coach
And to prime it off, the unpredictable sickness was lingering with the facility to alter every part instantly.
“Say we pushed the provincials two weeks, which might give us sufficient time to make up the video games from the circuit breaker,” stated Cameron.
“If we did that and there was one other [COVID-19] case within the meantime, effectively then, perhaps we might blow the prospect to have our provincials and have our playoffs.”
Postseason attainable
Three days after the preliminary announcement about ending the common season for younger P.E.I. gamers, the province eased well being restrictions and minor hockey later obtained the inexperienced gentle to go forward with its post-season.
“No query, right here on P.E.I. we performed probably the most regular-season video games out of anybody in Canada for certain, and we’re undoubtedly going to crown probably the most league champions in Canada,” stated Cameron.
For coaches like Darcy Harris with the Western Warriors U11 AA group, simply ending the season typically surpassed expectations.
“I used to be simply glad that they had been capable of end out the yr, ‘trigger they labored so onerous and discovered a lot,” he stated.
“My son is on the group and I do know he was simply dying to get the prospect to play in provincials.”
‘We had been lucky’
The Western Warriors ended the common season and provincial championships in second place.
“It was actually thrilling,” stated Harris. “It was simply good that everyone was capable of get collectively and compete for a championship.”
Harris is aware of that in some locations that wasn’t the case. He stated one among his closest pals runs a hockey academy in Manitoba; its doorways closed this yr attributable to COVID-19.
“They by no means acquired the prospect to play minor hockey in any respect. Right here we had been lucky sufficient to have the ability to get mainly a full season in after which playoffs,” he stated.
“That collective effort from all people actually allowed us to get that season in.”
Constructive impression on gamers
Cameron stated it is too early to know the total impression persevering with to play had on P.E.I. hockey gamers this season however he is sure it is going to be optimistic.
On the prime ranges, Cameron stated he thinks the impression shall be mirrored within the QMJHL draft, “not solely how excessive a few of our children go however presumably even the amount of children that get picked.”
And in different divisions, Cameron stated the payoff is obvious each on the ice and off.
“On the finish of the day, once you see the photographs on social media of the youngsters and the coaches and — not simply the trophy celebration however simply the youngsters in and across the rinks through the provincial weekend — it is undoubtedly value it,” he stated.
“No query.”
As for 13-year-old ahead Petra, she thinks this yr’s hockey season will assist hold her on observe to attain her dream of sooner or later taking part in within the Olympic Video games.
“I’ve liked it since I used to be like six years outdated,” she stated. “Simply the texture of when your skates hit the ice is rather like the most effective feeling.
“Simply to get extra follow like taking pictures, passing, being a part of a group — it is simply going to assist me.”
