The easing of COVID related restrictions has been further relaxed in Nova Scotia.
As of Monday, gathering limits for sports practices, and arts and culture rehearsals has been increased to 25 in number.
For the hockey community, this is great news. For the first time since mid-December Nova Scotia-based teams can practice as teams.
The province’s cautious approach does not allow for games to be played. All other restrictions remain in effect until February 14th.
For the Eastlink South Division, it must feel like the opening of training camp, getting the rust off and returning to the song sheet that was successful in the past.
Last week, MHL teams in New Brunswick were permitted to return to play. Unfortunately, most of those scheduled games fell victim to inclement weather and terrible road conditions.
For the schedule makers, this just adds to the job, making sure teams can reach the desired 42 games. This is no easy task.
Things are going to get busy over February and March to achieve this goal. For the players, they’re chomping at the bit to get it on.
January 10th is an important hockey date. That’s the Trade Deadline,
February 10th is important, as well. Teams can add uncarded players to the roster if space allows.
The Bearcats did just that last week, adding twenty-year-old forward, Riley MacInnis to the lineup.
The Bible Hill native came up through the Truro Major Bantam Program, followed by a season with the Weeks Midgets. He was a scorer at both stops.
A 2017 Draft pick by Valley, he spent the last four seasons with the Wildcats. He served as team captain last year, before leaving the club last December.
The bolstered lineup is setting its sight on the return to play. As the schedule suggests, the Bearcats open with two road trips, first to Yarmouth, then to Amherst, on February 19th and February 20th.
Truro’s first home game is a meeting with Edmundston on February 25th. The Blizzard were first overall in the MHL when the league entered pause mode.