The first week has come and gone for Cape Breton hockey players.
Minor hockey and elite level teams returned to the ice last week following permission from the provincial government. The hockey was the same, but there was a noticeable difference.
The new restrictions, which will expire on Sunday at 11:59 p.m., allowed games to resume for the first time in over a month, but no spectators were allowed inside the rinks to watch in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Fortunately, as an on-ice official for 14 years, being on the ice with the players and having quick conversations with them, you wouldn't know there was a difference.
In fact, many players admitted they don't really notice fans even when they are allowed in the building. This isn't surprising. Although parents like to think their children can hear them cheering them on from the stands, their focus isn't on spectators.
If one thing is clear, the players haven't lost the passion or interest for the game and it wasn't hard to tell.
Officiating the Cape Breton High School Hockey League game between the Memorial Marauders and Glace Bay Panthers Sunday night at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay, both teams were vocal on every play and it was more relevant given the empty building.
In the end, one team must win and it was the Panthers coming out on top with a 3-2 overtime victory. It was the club's second win in three nights.
Although the players say they don't notice the people in the stands, they still enjoy playing in front of their family and friends whether they like to admit it or not. Every player wants to play in front of fans, but health officials say the time isn't right — for now.
LIVESTREAMING
Despite the restrictions, family and friends can still watch the games. Most teams — whether they pay someone or have parent volunteers — have been livestreaming the games on the internet. Facebook provides the option of having livestreams, which eases the burden on not physically being inside the arena.
Is it the same?
No. Watching online is not the same as being there, but if that's what it takes for the time being for the players to be able to play games again, so be it. We've all had to make sacrifices over the past 11 months, what's one more?
It's understandable some parents would be disappointed not being able to watch their child from the stands. Parents pay for their children to play and should be able to watch, but like it or not, parents are secondary in this situation.
For over a month, the players have been on the ice attending practices. Some coaches came up with creative ways to keep the players interested.
Practice is important for player development, there's no question about it, but the players can only practice for so long. Having games return is beneficial in many ways including for mental and physical health.
With COVID-19 cases staying low in Nova Scotia and restrictions about to expire this weekend — hopefully — one would think rules would be eased, but that decision is up to Dr. Robert Strang and provincial health officials.
The main thing right now is players are back on the ice playing the game they love. Although it's been tough, parents have accepted the fact they can't be in the rink and seem satisfied knowing their children are happy.
For now, continue to be patient, parents. Who knows what next week will bring? Hopefully, fans can return to the rinks — socially distanced and masked of course — and enjoy the final three months of the 2020-21 season.
Jeremy Fraser covers sports for the Cape Breton Post. He welcomes column ideas, sports story suggestions or feedback about this week’s Sports Chat.
