It has been a long road, and I know several of our Sharks families have been impacted directly by the COVID virus.  With the recent announcements from the Governor, life in Connecticut is slowly returning to something that resembles normal. 

We witnessed that firsthand when some of our local rink partners like Northford Ice Pavilion opened their doors on June 17.  It was like Christmas morning seeing smiling players on the ice enjoying the sport that they love.

State of Connecticut Update
In conjunction with the June 17 start of Phase 2, we received some clarity on timelines that directly impact youth hockey and our Sharks family.  The Governor has categorized Ice Hockey as a "Higher Risk" Sport. As a result, the Governor has ordered a phased, two-step approach to specific activities.

Phase 2 – Part 1: (starting June 17, 2020)
Higher risk sports are allowed to perform only the following:

Camps
"Individual or group training"
"Controlled practices"

Our summer skill sessions are included in Phase 2 – Part 1, and our program will begin on June 23. Careful consideration and planning have been our focus throughout the process to ensure that we are compliant with all state guidelines and providing the safest environment possible.

Phase 2 – Part 2: (starting July 7, 2020)
Phase 2 – Part 2 expands upon the items listed above to include the following activities:

"Scrimmages, games, meets, matches, etc."
"Tournaments allowed after July 6, 2020."

Impact on Sharks Programs
Based on the above timelines, the Sharks will be moving forward with our CT Girls Hockey (CGHL) tryouts in mid-July.  Our tryout dates and registration information will be posted to our website and communicated by June 21.  We will also provide clear guidance on the steps that we will take in conjunction with our rink partners to ensure the safety of our families.

I think its important to understand the “new normal” that we live in.  We will provide information as accurately and as timely as possible, but we should all remain flexible and understand that plans are subject to change.  We all hope that the virus numbers continue to trend in the right direction, but if the state experiences a setback, then everyone should expect an impact on the schedule.

I look forward to seeing everyone at the rink.  Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or feedback.  We will not do anything that puts a player or family member in harm’s way.

Regards,

Ed Rodham
President &  Director of Hockey Operations