Adult hockey was approved as 100% vaccinated | News

Adult league hockey matches are tentatively scheduled to continue on Jan. 2, with all teams expecting to agree to participate in the Fully County Fully Vaccinated Facilities program.

The City of Aspen confirmed Monday that staff received approval from the Pitk County Health Board to allow Aspen Adult League hockey players to join the program. According to the program, hockey players do not have to wear masks on the ice during games.

“Our goal is always – we want to provide programming,” said Cory Vander Veen, director of recreation for the city of Aspen. “As long as we have staff and can use it safely, we’ll do our best.”

Approval does not cover all hockey game facilities – the Ice Garden and the Lewis Ice Arena at the Aspen Recreation Center. Only the hockey league is allowed to participate in the program during games and rehearsals, and players must continue to wear masks whenever they are on the ice, including in locker rooms and lobbies.

The city is currently coordinating with the teams on how many players will participate, Vander Veen said. Players who do not want to be unvaccinated cannot participate in the program whether or not they wear a mask.

“Unfortunately, according to the county, in a 100 percent vaccinated program, everything has to be vaccinated,” Vander Veen said. “We offer these people refunds or hockey all week to give them options so they can continue to play hockey.”

Provided the league is able to continue games on January 2, no hockey matches will be canceled and the Regular Season may continue as planned. In addition to waiting for confirmation from the groups, the city may also have to re-adjust if the county notifies a change in its public health ordinance, which currently requires everyone over the age of 2 to wear a mask in all public indoor areas.

“We’re talking to the city and county because we’re paying close attention to the numbers right now to make sure our customer service and all of our programs are safe,” Vander Veen said. “We’re keeping a close eye on it with a tentative start date, but all [depends on] what is happening in the municipality. “

City officials will meet with the hockey team captains today to finalize the details so the season can continue.

All youth teams, hockey tournaments and away matches will continue to be subject to the current public health regulation, Vander Veen said. The fully vaccinated program is open to visiting teams that are 100% vaccinated, but completely unvaccinated teams are subject to a public health ordinance that requires masks.

Approval was obtained after the city authorities held an emotional meeting with members of the hockey community on Dec. 15 to find a solution after the games were suspended because the county mask regulation was not followed. Considering a solution for a fully vaccinated space was one of the recommendations players asked for.