Minor hockey is being suspended in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Effective Friday, Hockey NL has decided to suspend all sanctioned activities until further notice in the wake of the global spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The move comes after Hockey Canada made the decision Thursday to suspend its sanctioned events for the foreseeable future.
In a letter posted to the organization’s Twitter feed, HNL president Jack Lee called the decision unprecedented. The decision was made after consultation with the province’s chief medical officer of health, HNL’s medical director and Hockey Canada.
“Hockey NL is in full agreement with the decision of Hockey Canada,” Lee wrote. “Members should know that this decision was not taken lightly.”
The decision will put a damper on the remainder of the season as minor hockey teams prepare for their annual Easter week provincial tournaments. It is expected the AAA peewee provincial tournament scheduled for this weekend in Conception Bay South will be suspended in accordance with this decision.
It is also expected that senior and junior hockey, which are in the middle of their playoffs, will also be included in this decision.
