The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League says COVID-19 cases on four teams have led to the postponement of six games.
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Castlegar Rebels, Fernie Ghostriders and Kelowna Chiefs each have positive cases, according to a league announcement Thursday.
The Kelowna Chiefs told Black Press Media that nine of its players have tested positive, and more are expected throughout the week. Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 game Friday at home to the North Okanagan Knights has been postponed.
Castlegar Rebels president Mike Johnstone said eight-to-10 players are exhibiting symptoms. He added not all of them have been tested for COVID-19 as current Interior Heath guidelines don91裸聊视频檛 allow for testing of double-vaccinated individuals without other risk factors.
91裸聊视频淚t spread quite quickly around our room and we wanted to cut it off and limit exposure to our players, staff, volunteers and opponents, so the decision was made to cancel the games,91裸聊视频 said Johnstone.
Nitehawks president Stephen Piccolo said six players had tested positive and are currently in isolation.
91裸聊视频淥micron is hitting everyone hard it looks like,91裸聊视频 said Piccolo. 91裸聊视频淎nd I mean everybody 91裸聊视频 our fan base, the games that we can91裸聊视频檛 have, and we91裸聊视频檙e hoping it doesn91裸聊视频檛 carry into another season.91裸聊视频
Other games to be rescheduled include:
91裸聊视频 Friday, Jan. 7: Beaver Valley Nitehawks at Castlegar Rebels; Grand Forks Border Bruins at Fernie Ghostriders
91裸聊视频 Saturday, Jan. 8: Castlegar Rebels at Nelson Leafs; Fernie Ghostriders at Columbia Valley Rockies
91裸聊视频 Sunday, Jan. 9: Golden Rockets at Beaver Valley Nitehawks
The infections come despite the KIJHL91裸聊视频檚 COVID-19 policy, which required every player and staff member to have received two doses of vaccine prior to the start of the season in October.
The Nitehawks were and had their head coach suspended for eight games when it was revealed two of their players had begun the season not fully vaccinated.
With files from Jen Zielinski in Kelowna, Betsy Kline in Castlegar and Jim Bailey in Trail.