Rising Coronavirus Cases Puts Interstate Hockey Travel On Ice

CONCORD, NH – Amid spikes in positive coronavirus cases around New England and the rest of the country, a suspension of interstate travel for school and youth hockey teams will go into effect on Saturday and remain in place through at least the remainder of the year in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.

Governors in seven states including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut announced the move on Thursday as concerns over increased number of positive cases of the virus continue to surge at alarming rates.

In a news conference Thursday afternoon, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said that outside of youth and school programs, other hockey teams and leagues — including professional, college and the United States national team —will not be impacted by the restrictions and will continue to follow health guidelines already put into place.

“As case numbers increase in many states across the country, it is critical that neighboring states coordinate a regional approach to limit further community spread of the virus,” officials wrote in the joint press release announcing the hockey-related travel restrictions that were announced Thursday.

Sports leagues and schools have dealt with attempts to restrict the spread of the coronavirus in their own way since the pandemic began. With each state having their own restrictions in place, whether sports continued – or the guidelines players were required to followed – depended largely on location.

While ice rinks and other sports venues have been limited – or closed – depending on the severity of positive cases in each region, some arenas have started to reopen, albeit with requirements in place that players wear face-coverings while on the ice.

In New Hampshire, Sununu said that in-state teams will be allowed to continue to play, but because of the new travel restrictions that go into place on Saturday, will soon be limited in how coaches fill out their schedules for q5 least the remainder of the year.

State officials took what Sununu called a “very aggressive, data-driven action” recently when it temporarily shut hockey down in the state. But now with teams unable to leave the state to continue play and with some mandatory testing in place, Sununu believes programs can safely resume their respective seasons under a fresh re-start.

“We do remain very optimistic that that the newly issued hockey and ice arena guidance will continue to ensure the safe and successful season for New Hampshire hockey players,” Sununu said. “So the season is still very much on.”