New Mass. guidelines most likely apply to U16. There is a good argument that they do not apply to U18 & Juniors as Mass. law considers an 18-year-old an adult, therefore, not a youth.
Re-reading section II (How To Use This Document), I think it's arguable that "Junior" leagues do not fall under the new guidelines. I love how they preface it with "For the avoidance of doubt..." and then proceed to make it unclear as to just exactly who these guidelines pertain to.
Exact wording is the following: "For the avoidance of doubt, this guidance applies to K-12 school (which includes but is not limited to, any private or independent schools) and other youth sports activities. To provide more clarity for K-12 school sport organizers, the following guidelines will apply for the
remainder of the 2020-21 school year, unless public health conditions warrant any necessary updates."
This makes it appear as though this new guidance does NOT apply to "Junior" leagues, as they are certainly not a K-12 school and I don't think are considered a "youth sport activity".
Has anyone received any clarification on if this applies to NCDC/NAHL?
This whole season is a cluster!
Why would you think it doesn’t?
Of course it does.
Wouldn't let me edit. Let me clarify.
Despite the K-12 language, which does muddy the water, the sentence preceding it is "The guidelines in this document are designed to provide instructions to Facility Operators and Activity Organizers of youth and adult amateur sports activities to help protect against the spread of COVID-19"
Youth and Adult amateur sports activities.
It would make no sense that the standards don't apply to junior. And Beer League. And NCAA, although I can see a clarification coming that allows college hockey if we get that far.
So, pretty much everyone other than the Bruins and the ECHL Railers.
So for NCDC...you have to play between the IHC, SSK, JR B's and BA for the foreseeable future?
Even heard the level of play has dropped with the addition of so many younger players from prep...Hockey in MA is screwed!
There weren't many top hockey players coming out of MA but when you add this to Jr's and no prep season...anyone with any talent will be gone by Christmas...
So for NCDC...you have to play between the IHC, SSK, JR B's and BA for the foreseeable future?
Even heard the level of play has dropped with the addition of so many younger players from prep...Hockey in MA is screwed!
There weren't many top hockey players coming out of MA but when you add this to Jr's and no prep season...anyone with any talent will be gone by Christmas...
Get out if you can!!
And go where? Get out to NAHL teams that keep canceling games? Get out to USHL that keeps cancelling games? Where are gonna go? USPHL in Florida is not very good! Can’t go to Canada.
Where are u gonna go!