Saturday, August 21, 2021

Notebook: OHL will require fans to be vaccinated

The Ontario Hockey League dropped some major news on Friday afternoon, announcing that all fans who attend games in any of the league's 17 Ontario-based markets must be fully vaccinated. The rule is effective Oct. 7 when the league's regular season kicks off.

A press release said the "expanded policy will cover all spectators and other attendees at all OHL events, including games and practices.

"Those wishing to gain access to OHL facilities of the 17 Ontario based teams will be required to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 and follow any other safety protocols while in the facility. Children under the age of 12 will be required to be accompanied and supervised by a fully vaccinated adult and will be required to follow all safety protocols."

The OHL, along with the QMJHL and WHL, are already requiring all players and staff to be fully vaccinated this season.

In Quebec, an Aug. 24 pre-season game in Shawinigan will be used as a test run for the province's vaccine passport system. The province has said that the passport will be required when visiting non-essential public places - such has hockey arenas - beginning Sept. 1.

In summary: get vaccinated. Most of the sports world is slowly moving towards requiring full vaccination.

PRE-SEASON NUMBERS
Through two games, Vince Elie, a second-round pick of the Sea Dogs in this year's QMJHL Entry Draft, is leading the entire QMJHL in pre-season scoring with four goals and an assist for five points. 
Carter McCluskey is second in scoring with three goals. Peter Reynolds, meanwhile, has two goals and an assist while both Nico Laforge and Elliot Simard have three assists.

COMING UP
The Sea Dogs will play three pre-season games this coming week before the mid-camp break.

The team will travel to PEI on Tuesday, facing the Charlottetown Islanders at 7:30 p.m. in Cornwall. The two teams will then battle at Fredericton's Aitken Centre on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, the Sea Dogs travel to Bathurst to take on the Titan at 3 p.m. After that, the Dogs won't be in exhibition action until Sept. 10.

But, before all those games begin, the team has one more scrimmage to play.
SEA DOGS ON EASTLINK
If you have Eastlink cable, four Sea Dogs road games will be available to you via Eastlink Community TV. The games are:

Saturday, Jan. 15 at Halifax
Friday, Feb. 18 at Halifax
Friday, March 11 at Charlottetown
Friday, April 1 at Cape Breton

LAROSE GOING PRO
Former Sea Dogs defenseman Nathan Larose, who was set to join the UNB Reds for this upcoming season, has reportedly signed with the San Diego Gulls, the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.
Larose recorded 17 goals and 16 assists in 31 games with Cape Breton in his overage season. He spent parts of two seasons with Saint John.

OTHER THINGS
  • After playing their first two pre-season games without any COVID capacity restrictions, Saint John's Tuesday night contest will be limited to just 100 spectators, the Charlottetown Islanders announced Saturday.
  • The United States extended its land border travel restrictions for another month. The current restrictions are now set to expire on Sept. 21. Another month-long extension could cause some logistical issues for cross-border games in the OHL and WHL.
  • The Calgary Flames blog Matchsticks and Gasoline named Yan Kuznetsov the 21st best prospect in the team's system.
  • Latvian defenseman Niks Fenenko, the first overall pick in this year's CHL Import Draft by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, is expected to arrive in Quebec on Sept. 7. The Drakkar visit Saint John on Nov. 27.
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