Minor hockey halted from Oshawa to Pickering and beyond as COVID cases mount

Minor hockey leagues across Durham Region have halted play with the Omicron COVID-19 variant sweeping the nation.

Tournament play has ceased and with the professional leagues cancelling games because of surging case counts, it was no surprise that minor hockey involving mostly unvaccinated children would take the prudent approach and put a temporary end to games and practices.

The two minor hockey leagues in Oshawa – NASC (Park League) and Oshawa Church Hockey League – have ceased play, as has Alliance Hockey and the Pickering Hockey Association, just to name a few.

The leagues will “re-assess” the shutdown on January 3.

In a statement from NASC Hockey to the parents and players, the league asked that everyone follow public health guidelines on masking and social distancing and said they will “continue to monitor the situation” and will “communicate to all” the moment the kids can get back to the rink to play the game they love.

“While this may not be the information you wanted to hear, it is the smartest and most logical thing to do coming into the Christmas break.”