On Friday November 6, 2020, the state of Massachusetts released new guidelines for youth sports.  As parents, we are extremely grateful to be able to watch our children play and enjoy the sport of hockey again.  However, the reopening of hockey did not come without heartache.  These guidelines state "Facility operators may allow only Massachusetts-based teams and Massachusetts-based participants of moderate risk and high-risk sports to participate in Massachusetts-based Sport Events held at Massachusetts sports facilities." It also mentions that facility operators and organizations will risk suspension if they allow out of state players or teams by stating "any Facility Owner or Activity Organizer that hosts an out-of-state team at a Massachusetts facility or allows an out-of-state player to participate on a Massachusetts-based team risks facility closure or suspension of a league’s practices and/or games." 

Youth hockey players are not just teammates, they are family, hockey family.   Some of these out of state players have been playing on teams in Massachusetts based hockey organizations for years.  There are many displaced youth hockey players in Massachusetts because of this restriction.  Many players that live along the border of Massachusetts from New Hampshire and Connecticut no longer have a team to play on.  Why are these players allowed to go to school and daycare in Massachusetts, but they cannot play hockey here?  Isn't that a double standard? 

We need to start thinking about the effect that these decisions are taking on the social and emotional development of these children.  How do you explain to an 8-year-old that she can no longer play on a team she has been on since she was 5 because she lives just over the state line in Connecticut? Or a 14-year-old player from Connecticut that has been playing for his Massachusetts hockey organization for 9 years.  Many of these players do not have a team that they can play on in their state.  Hockey teams are established in the spring and payments for the season are made way in advance of the season starting.   We beg you to reconsider the decision to prevent out of state players from playing on their Massachusetts based teams.  If a player was already rostered on a Massachusetts hockey team, they should be able to remain with their team. 

We need to start thinking about our children.  I will conclude with a quote from a text message that the 14 year old (from Connecticut) that is no longer allowed to play with our team wrote to his head coach "I will do everything in my power to come home to family.  This is the most skilled team I have ever played with and I've never seen such good chemistry.  You are the best coach I've ever had.  In just the preseason I've become a better player and better person.  Hopefully, I can stay on the roster.  These guys are family and the best teammates I've ever had the honor of playing with.   I will always be a Crusader."

We beg you Governor Baker to reconsider your decision and ALLOW OUT OF STATE PLAYERS ROSTERED ON MASSACHUSETTS HOCKEY TEAMS TO PLAY IN MASSACHUSETTS.  Let these players return to their hockey families.