Casco Bay Hockey Association (CBHA), in conjunction with USA Hockey, the Maine Amateur Hockey Association (MEAHA), the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention (Maine CDC), local government officials, and local arena staff have developed the following organizational policy related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Casco Bay Hockey developed this policy with the expectation that we will all work together to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure that everyone can have a safe hockey season.  Those that do not adhere to these guidelines put all of us at risk from not having a hockey season and will be subject to disciplinary action!

Face covering requirements will be evaluated on a regular basis.  Casco Bay players must follow the rules of the rink they are practicing and playing at (links will be included below when rinks publish them).  All players are required to wear a face covering inside of CBHA rinks (but are not required on the ice).  Face coverings are required when players are in any locker room.

What happens if a skater or household member has a positive test or is exposed to anyone with symptoms?  

1. Has your skater been identified as a close contact to a person with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms (presumed positive) in the past 2 weeks?

• If YES, the player & coach is withheld from team activities for 10 days after contact with that person.
• IF YES and fully vaccinated, the player & coach can return immediately with proof of vaccination. Player/coach needs to wear a mask (on & off ice) in accordance with Maine CDC. See Maine CDC guidelines here on when the mask can come off.
• If YES and in a school pooled testing program, the player & coach can return immediately with proof of being in such program. They will need to follow the same masking guidelines of those that are vaccinated and a close contact.

2. How long does a player that tests positive for COVID 19 have to wait before returning to hockey?

• At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
• At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
• Symptoms have improved 

3. What happens if multiple players on the same team test positive or have entered quarantine for exposure during a rolling 14-day period?

• Casco Bay COVID Committee will evaluate the above scenario and could possibly hold the team off the ice for a specified period of time to stop the spread of the outbreak.

On ice COVID exposure will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The focus will be to identify close contacts verses sweeping quarantines (provided the CDC does not change course on this new direction).  We want to stop the spread of the virus but also realize the damaging impact that quarantines can have on family livelihood and education.

Testing positive requires notification to Casco Bay Youth Hockey via notify@cascobayhockey.com.  A parent, guardian, or player should not feel obligated to report this to his/her coach or team administrator.  Parents may notify their child’s coach or TA, but it is not required.  

Casco Bay Hockey will follow the guidance of the Maine CDC regarding notification and contact tracing.  Our intention is to be as candid and forthcoming as possible while respecting the privacy of every member.  The Casco Bay Hockey COVID Committee reserves the right to have rules that are different than current Maine CDC and/or US CDC rules based on our best judgment of our sport and how to keep players safe.  The Committee also reserves the right to examine the application of our rules to each exposure situation and make exceptions when necessary.

Links:

USA Hockey Player Safety and Health: https://www.usahockey.com/playersafety

Maine CDC: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/coronavirus/index.shtml

Click here or the document link below to download the Casco Bay Hockey Participant Agreement.

FMI/Questions about Casco Bay Hockey's guidelines please click president@cascobayhockey.com to email Matt Lambert.

Last updated 8/30/2021