{"id":919,"date":"2020-10-15T23:20:44","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T03:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rinkatlas.com\/blog\/?p=919"},"modified":"2020-10-16T08:10:52","modified_gmt":"2020-10-16T12:10:52","slug":"new-hampshire-governor-pauses-amateur-hockey-statewide-for-two-weeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rinkatlas.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/new-hampshire-governor-pauses-amateur-hockey-statewide-for-two-weeks\/","title":{"rendered":"New Hampshire Governor Pauses Amateur Hockey Statewide for Two Weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New Hampshire Union-Leader reported that New Hampshire\u00a0Governor Chris Sununu ordered a two-week statewide shutdown of all indoor ice rinks<\/a>. This is because the state identified “six ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks among hockey teams that spread to two dozen public schools”. Amateur hockey and college rinks should be able to reopen on Thursday, October 29. According to the article:<\/p>\n

Over the past two months, the state has identified 158 cases of players and staff contracting COVID-19, including 117 linked directly to eight different outbreaks from youth hockey and another 41 cases tied to that activity. –Dr. Benjamin Chan {paraphrased by\u00a0Kevin Landrigan, NH Union-Leader}<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dr. Benjamin Chan, the New Hampshire State Epidemiologist reportedly said, “We haven\u2019t seen a lot of spread and transmission from other sports. It appears to be associated with hockey.”<\/p>\n

This decision comes in the aftermath of last week’s discovery of a COVID-19 outbreak associated with three teams playing out of The Rinks at Exeter<\/a>. The initial scope of this outbreak was 12 players who are age 16 plus one staff member\u00a0from the Seacoast Performance Academy<\/a>. Two teams of 14 and 15-year-old players were also shutdown as a precaution. At the time, it was thought that the earliest date that players could return was October 19.<\/p>\n

In fact COVID-19 cases associated with hockey practice have been breaking out in New Hampshire at least since late August<\/a>, as we discussed here on RinkAtlas.<\/p>\n

Reaction to Governor’s Order is Swift on Twitter<\/h2>\n

Many members of the New Hampshire Hockey Community reacted angrily to Governor Sununu’s order. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n

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He has never worked hand in hand with us. As a matter of fact I have been to feel like I'm a criminal … this is nobody's fault….you are locking us down ..taking away all our rights as Americans! Live free or die! @NJrCyclones<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/XlaMOsCfGX<\/a><\/p>\n

— Coach Bill Flanagan (@cyclonesjrcoach) October 16, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n