The lifelong benefits associated with providing opportunities for kids to learn to play hockey are immeasurable.  Hockey helps kids discover who they are as individuals and how they act within a group setting. Ice hockey kids seem to experience a lot about life: They learn responsibility, teamwork, and respect for others. And for both boys and girls, rewards from playing ice hockey begin at an early age.

Your mandate of all participants in minor hockey needing to be fully vaccinated by October 31, 2021 is not only unethical, it is illegal, immoral, and unnecessary.

Models from researchers found that kids are half as susceptible to COVID-19 compared to adults, and also found that people under 20 are less likely to transmit the virus to other people. Growing evidence has showed that COVID-19 affects kids and younger people differently. Children experience lower infection rates, accounting for less than 10 percent of cases. If kids do get the disease, the symptoms are typically milder. More and more research is coming out to suggest children NOT receive the vaccine. Clinical evidence also shows more data to support that children do not need to be tested as they are not a significant source of spread.

The province of Ontario itself has stated children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated will be exempt from screening requirements. Those 18 and younger who will be entering an indoor space for organized sports will also be exempt from screening. They have also exempted youth recreational sports from their vaccine passport. 

By imposing this mandate you will be losing a lot of young players who spend their whole summers dreaming of getting back on the ice again come the fall. Since the beginning of COVID these children have had significantly less ice time and are anxious to start this season off as normal as possible. 

One last item to mention. A lot of small communities have small hockey associations, especially in rural areas. This mandate could see the closures of arenas that will not be in use this season as associations will not have enough “vaccinated” players and coaching staff to run the programs.

We implore you to please reconsider your vaccine mandate and get ALL children back on the ice again.