Connecticut Hockey Conference
GOVERNING BODY FOR USA HOCKEY IN CONNECTICUT
AN AFFILIATE OF USA HOCKEY
August 24, 2021
Dear Presidents and Player Safety Representatives,
Here are the current Covid Reporting Guidelines, Reporting Procedures, and CHC’s position regarding USA Hockey sanctioned events in Connecticut:
•In consultation with the State Department of Health, The CHC, in conjunction with the Connecticut RinkOwner’s Association (C.R.O.A.), requires that all individuals / participants MUST WEAR A MASK ORFACE COVERING AT ALL TIMES WHEN INSIDE A FACILITY HOSTING CHC / USA HOCKEY SANCTIONED EVENTS (PRACTICES, SCRIMMAGES, GAMES, ETC.) IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, AND INSIDE FACILITES HOSTING CHC MEMBER PROGRAMS PAWLING AND PUTNAM YOUTH HOCKEY.
•All CHC / USA HOCKEY SANCTIONED EVENTS IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND IN FACILITES HOSTING CHC / USA HOCKEY MEMBER PROGRAMS PAWLING AND PUTNAM YOUTH HOCKEY MUST ADHERE TO THIS MASK POLICY.
•RINK, TOWN, OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT POLICIES DO NOT SUPERSEDE THIS MANDATE, but they may implement stricter policies/guidelines that apply, and you should monitor those throughout theseason.
•THE DEFINITION OF PARTICIPANTS IS ALL PLAYERS, COACHES, ON-ICE OFFICIALS, OFF-ICE OFFICIALS (SCORREKEEPERS & TIMEKEEPERS), AND SPECTATORS.
THE FOLLOWING PENALITES WILL BE IN-FORCE FOR THE 2021-2022 SEASON:
FIRST OFFENSE: $ 500 charged to the program.
SECOND OFFENSE: $ 1,000.00 charged to the program.
THIRD OFFENSE: $ 1,000.00 charged to the program + disqualification from all CHC tournaments.
COVID REPORTING
In accordance with state and local privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations, youth sports organizations should notify local health officials (your DPH), youth sports program staff, officials, and families of any programs with which the player has shared ice for practices, games, or skill sessions immediately of any confirmed positive case of COVID-19.
Once a case is reported, the Player Safety Representative is responsible for notifying the following people via email with the required information:
•Your Program President
•Your Local DPH
•Parents of Affected Team Members
•Team Coaches
•Facility Management (call or email is acceptable)
•Amy Landino, Player Safety Coordinator ‐ CT, amylandsk8@gmail.com
•Chuck Wilkerson, CHC President, chctournamentdirector@outlook.com
•Art Blakeslee, CHC Vice President, art.blakeslee4@gmail.com
•Mike Federico, CHC Treasurer, Michaelfederico@Cox.net
•Dawn Bryson, CHC Secretary, dawnbryson@chchockey.org
If the possible exposure occurred during a game:
Player Safety Representative of opposing team’s organization via email immediately after notice & call to make sure they received the notification as quickly as possible.
CT Referee in Chief, Kevin Redding, at ctric@chchockey.org so he can contact officials.
•**Please note it is the Home teams responsibility to notify their local DPH**
•Player Safety Representatives are reminded that it is their responsibility to inform teams/coaches/parentsof their association/state/local guidelines and policies.
•Please check your email and the CHC website regularly for updates to state guidelines.
CONTACT TRACING & QUARANTINE PERIOD
•A person is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or 2 weeksafter their single dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
•CDC’s general guidance for identification of close contacts defines a contact as within 6 ft of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. However, this definition is intended for individuals interacting at a relative resting state (e.g., engaged in conversation, seated near eachother, etc.). In cases where significant respiratory droplet generation and spread could reasonably be expected (e.g., with a cough or sneeze, aerobic activity, forced exhalation upon exertion, etc.), then 15minutes of exposure is not needed to be considered a contact. In the case of ice hockey, given the highly aerobic nature of the activity, caution would dictate that anyone who may have come within“spitting distance” of a case during a practice or game should be considered a contact. Masks do not factor into CDC’s definition because it is not possible to verify consistent and correct use of masks during activities.
•Individuals who are not fully vaccinated who are identified as a close contact of a known COVID-19 case quarantine away from sports for a full 14 days from the date of their last exposure to the case, or for 10 days with a negative test at day 8 or later. Even if players are allowed to return to school or other activities earlier than the timelines listed above, they should not return to sports until 14 days or 10 days with a test.
•Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to quarantine away from sports at all, as long as they do not have any symptoms. It is recommended that fully vaccinated individuals get tested between day 3-5 after their last exposure to a case and wear a mask when around others at all times until they receive anegative test result or for a full 14 days.
•When someone becomes infected, that person must go into “isolation” (vs. contacts who go into quarantine). Isolation lasts for a full 10 days from the time symptoms started or the positive test was administered if the individual did not experience symptoms prior to the positive result.
RETURN TO PLAY
•APA 6 day Return to Play Information: After an infected player’s isolation period ends, they should confirm with their medical provider that they are cleared to return to athletic activities. Those players, in consultation with their medical provider or the team trainer/physician, should follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Return to Sports and Physical Activity guidance and procedures, including the multi-day progression of physical activity as indicated. A written note from the players pediatrician is required to be presented to Return to Play.•There is no need for testing to be released from isolation (in fact, the person may continue to test positive for up to 90 days after they are infected, so testing is not recommended for people who have recently recovered from COVID-19).•Given the current state of infections in our state, it is likely that sooner or later someone will show up at practice or a game infected, and so player, coaches, etc. will benefit significantly in terms ofpractice/game time if they are fully vaccinated.
HIPAA •Please note that it is NOT a HIPAA violation to request proof of vaccination for all participants. Here is information on the subject from the CT State DPH: A great summary from Harvard can be found here. The privacy rules included in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are very limited: they prohibit the release of protected health information (known as PHI) by “covered entities”(generally healthcare providers) without a person’s consent. They have nothing to do whether a person can or should answer questions about his or her vaccination status, or any other health issue. HIPAA doesn’t prevent anyone from asking a person about his or her vaccination status. And there’s nothing in it that prohibits businesses, such as restaurants, gyms, or movie theaters, an employer, or an athletic club from asking a person for proof of vaccination. Finally, HIPAA privacy rules do not prevent a person from answering questions about whether he or she has been vaccinated. It is an individual person’s decision whether or not to tell others their vaccination status. Of course, if a person decides not to disclose that information when asked, he or she should be considered unvaccinated and treated as such for quarantine length, etc.
If you have any questions, please reach out.
Thank you, Amy Landino Player Safety Coordinator CT
(NE District/USA Hockey) 203-809-2035
Amylandsk8@gmail.com
The Stars went undefeated for the weekend in a great team effort. The team allowed only 4 goals and was led by the strong defensive play of Will Alexander, Kieran Burns, Quinn Comer, Xavier Jacob and Maria Gilshannon, as well as outstanding goaltending by Christian Capone. The team scored 12 goals, led by Myles Moran with 4 as well as 6 other players scoring. In Stars tradition the forwards outworked their opponents and were led by, Tyler Carlson, Jack Keenan, Colton Perry, Cam Ressi, Derek Sansone, Davis Schiller, Owen Trice, and John Wetmore.
