A positive COVID case from a player has sidelined the Okotoks Jr. B Bisons.
Okotoks cancelled its two regular season games with the Strathmore Wheatland Kings this weekend after a player tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 5.
“Yesterday about 2:30 we found out we had a positive COVID test and then started actions, what to do and how to handle it,” said Bisons head coach Chris Beston on Nov. 6. “We talked to Alberta Health Services, talked to the league and basically they decided to shutdown this weekend and get everybody tested.
“Then we wait and see what’s going to happen after this.”
The Bisons also cancelled their scheduled practice for Nov. 5 after the positive test was confirmed.
“We kind of knew it was going to happen sooner or later, we weren’t exactly sure when,” Beston said. “The major thing is that everybody is safe and what we need to do is maybe concentrate on sticking to closer protocols. It’s tough to do with 18 to 21 year olds, just trying to put them in the best, safest scenario so we don’t spread this virus.”
It’s not the only case to hit the Heritage Junior Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Cubs and Coaldale Copperheads weekend series also called off.
COVID-19 cases are spiking in Alberta with a single-day record of approximately 800 cases confirmed on Nov. 5 across the province.
In Okotoks there were 20 active cases with 23 in Foothills County and five in High River as of the Nov. 6.
“It’s kind of case by case (in the league),” Beston said. “We’re not the only ones that have it … So we’re kind of just trying to figure it out as we go with the best case scenario.”
The Bisons and Wheatland Kings split the first two regular season games with Okotoks skating away with a 9-3 result on home ice on Nov. 1.
There’s currently no make-up date for the previously scheduled Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 contests.
Okotoks’ next scheduled series begins on Nov. 22 against the Lomond Lakers, the first of four games against the Southern Division foes.
Right now, it’s a waiting game for all involved.
“I don’t know exactly what the league is going to offer, there’s kind of been a couple different things thrown out,” Beston said. “We’re kind of just (waiting) to hear what’s going to happen.
“We’re just going day by day, hour by hour here of what we need to do.”
For more information go to okotoksbisons.com.
