Sports teams and athletes in Rocky View County were left reeling March 12, as a horde of local and regional sporting associations announced tournament cancellations and postponements in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 12, the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) announced its 2020 provincial high school basketball championships, scheduled for March 19 to 21, would be “postponed indefinitely.”
Hockey Alberta also brought the 2019-20 season to a premature halt, with its announcement March 12 that all Hockey Alberta-sanctioned activities would be cancelled, effective March 13. The events include league games, playoffs, practices, camps and provincial, regional and national championships.
Swim Alberta also announced it would postpone the 2020 Short Course Provincials, scheduled for March 13 to 15, as well as the 2020 Spring Championships, slated to be held in Edmonton the following weekend.
“As Swim Alberta watches the cancellation of many sporting and cultural events across our nation and world-wide, we recognize that a decision needs to be made around the health and safety of our membership and the greater community,” the statement from the association reads. “Alberta Health Services has asked that organizations assess the level of risk as it relates to mass gatherings and make a determination.”
With minor and senior football leagues just around the corner, Football Alberta and the Calgary Spring Football Association also announced they would cease all operations temporarily.
“That means that no CSFA team should be holding practices, meetings or gatherings of any nature,” reads a statement from the league’s president Greg Peterson. “We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and let you know if there is any change of plans.”
Other sporting associations that announced cancellations include Alberta Soccer, which stated the upcoming 2020 indoor provincial championships for minor and senior age groups would be postponed.
“As a leader in provincial sport, Alberta Soccer is motivated to assist Albertans to remain safe and healthy,” read a statement from the Alberta Soccer board of directors. “By minimizing contact with infected individuals and/or surfaces, we are supporting the Alberta Government’s endeavour to contain the spread of the virus within our cities and towns.
“While we understand that this decision may be disappointing to many Alberta Soccer members, we ultimately decided that the many uncontrollable factors considered pose too much of a risk to the health and safety of Alberta Soccer stakeholders and all Albertans.”
The statement went on to say further details on the re-scheduling of the 2020 indoor provincial championships would be shared with members “as soon as possible.”
At the university level, U SPORTS announced March 12 it would be cancelling its national championship tournaments for volleyball and hockey. The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) issued a similar statement, saying all ACAC competitions would be cancelled, effective immediately.
“The ACAC regrets the impact of this decision on the athletes, coaches and host institutions who have committed considerable time and effort this season,” the statement reads. “However, the health and safety of all are of paramount importance.”
The Airdrie Cochrane Athletic Association, which oversees the municipalities’ three AAA minor hockey teams, announced its annual awards banquet, scheduled for April 1, would be postponed.
Other sporting organizations that announced cancellations included Ringette Alberta, which announced all sanctioned events would be put to a halt, effective immediately, and Curling Alberta, which cancelled all remaining competitions for the 2019-20 season.
In Cochrane, local hockey teams that were enjoying strong playoff pushes each saw their post-seasons come to a halt. The junior B Generals’ playoff series with the Okotoks Bisons in the Heritage Junior Hockey League was brought to a premature close, while the Cochrane Chaos’ semi-final series against the Calgary Titans in the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League playoffs was similarly called off.
"It's obviously a very different way to end a season," said Generals goaltender Erik Garber. "I never would have thought our season would have ended because of something like this.
“Even though it sucks we can't finish our south final series, we have no control over what happens in the world with Coronavirus and it's probably the best for everyone's health that the season is cancelled, as tough as that is to say."
–With files from Troy Durrell/Cochrane Eagle
