Another COVID season for the Tigers

By JAMES TUBB on October 1, 2021.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Tigers players are able to live their lives away from the rink, they’re just asked to be smart.

Director of player personnel Bobby Fox says everyone realizes how lucky they are to be playing hockey and have a full regular season ahead of them. He says guys will be careful because they know that an outbreak could cost them a season or a chance to get to their next level.

“We’re trying to make it as normal as possible but also as safe as possible,” Fox said.

The players are required to be masked any time they are in Co-op Place unless they are doing physical activity. They are also required to check in daily via the “ARMS Athlete” app with how they are feeling or if they have any COVID symptoms. In which case the team would assess the situation with the player. All of the billets are also required to be vaccinated.

It is something the team takes seriously, as do the players.

“There’s different things we have to look out for and make sure we’re being safe and smart and meeting the standards that we have to,” defensemen Eric Van Impe said. “It’s obviously different, we can’t just go out and do whatever we want. I think we’ve been pretty good with it, especially last year just being more careful with it.”

WHL commissioner Ron Robison announced earlier this week 100 per cent of all players in the league are fully vaccinated ahead of the season, with no players opting out.

The players don’t have any rules from the organization about what they do in their free time but are expected to be smart.

For associate coach Joe Frazier, the players are trusted on their own but know what the team expects of them in regards to COVID safety.

“Obviously we want to be smart with the cases in Medicine Hat. It’s imperative we stay smart and keep doing our part to stay away from crowds. Most of the guys are going to the rink and their billets, not much else,” he said.

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