The Tisdale Trojans leave the ice after one of the few times they were able to skate on it during Saskatchewan's brief return to hockey. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Sask. Hockey Pause Reaction

‘I’d hate to be in that position’: Trojans disappointed but understanding of hockey pause

Nov 27, 2020 | 8:00 AM

Junior hockey clubs weren’t the only programs affected by the Government of Saskatchewan’s new COVID-19 related provincial health restrictions.

Effective Nov. 27, all programs 18 and under will be done hockey for 2020, including the Tisdale Trojans in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL).

Trojans General Manager Cole Simpson said they’ll respect the decision and everything the provincial government and the Saskatchewan Health Authority considered.

“There’s some disappointment that the guys aren’t going to be able to continue at the capacity we think they should,” Simpson told northeastNOW. “I’d hate to be in that position where I was one of those decision makers having to pass this down throughout the province.”

Unlike the first hockey pause in March that ended the Trojans’ playoff run, Simpson said there’s more peace of mind for his team because there’s still a chance to finish the 2020-21 season in the new year.

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The Trojans only played five games in the resumption of play: two exhibition and three in regular season. Throughout the process, Simpson said there wasn’t concern for safety, although there were four games postponed due to individuals involved with teams awaiting COVID-19 test results.

“There were certainly some challenges all the way through but there was never a scenario where we didn’t feel safe,” Simpson said. “Our league had some rigid and stringent policies in place that allowed us to show up to the rink and be comfortable, same thing with the Town of Tisdale. More of the work was behind the scenes. Getting things ready and making sure everything was in place for when those games actually did happen.”

Five regular season games for the Trojans are affected by the hockey pause. One piece of hope the Trojans and other U18 AAA clubs can hold on to is they could be made up later.

The Trojans had four games not take place throughout the season due to weather and COVID-19 tests. Simpson said their initial understanding was those games would be made up during buffer weekends throughout the schedule. They’ll wait for the SMAAAHL to complete its board meeting to see if that will still be the case.

Simpson said the future of the players in Tisdale – whether to keep them in town or send them home – will depend on the SMAAAHL in the upcoming days.

“We don’t want to make any decisions that will affect their schooling in a negative way. We’ll use the information available and what regulations we have to abide by and find the best way to keep these guys in shape and ready for when the season does resume,” Simpson said.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow