2020/21 Season Update
Hello Lions and Grizzlies!
We know everyone is looking for some “normal” in their life and that we are all patiently waiting for the start of the season. Over the next week, we will push out information on our social media pages and our website regarding assessments for the various ages. We feel very strongly about players having hockey to support their physical and mental health, and we are committed to making sure we have a season.
We are excited to announce our 16U assessments starting next week. Click here for more information and to register.
Safety is paramount to both associations and the facilities we work with. Although this season may feel different, we are still planning the quality program you expect! We respect everyone’s positions as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic for themselves and their families and are working to meet the expectations of a variety of stakeholders.
In case you haven’t heard, UAF was set to open August 3rd after a summer of mechanical repairs. We had four fun skates followed by assessments scheduled starting August 10th. When we received news of their recent mechanical issue, we put out an announcement and continue to ask that everyone send good hockey vibes to UAF for a quick and easy fix! We appreciate the hard work of the University staff and their communication with the association has been stellar! We are also working with UAF to ensure our facility and association mitigation plans align and meet the needs of all participants.
The Big Dipper is also working with us, not only to facilitate opening but to have safety precautions in place to meet their expectations. This process has been in the works for some time and continues to develop as their expectations are identified.
We have reached out to Polar Ice and they were not able to commit ice to our associations due to previously negotiated agreements. Ft. Wainwright is still identifying their plan for the winter. The Carlson Center is still under contract with the State of Alaska as a COVID-19 care facility.
We are pivoting at each step to offer hockey with safety in mind. Across the state youth sports are navigating the mandates and emergency orders that are in place or being released on a regular basis. These impacts are affecting many players in the state, not just Fairbanks. Although we typically hold assessments in early to mid-August the season doesn’t usually start until September so we are hopeful we will be rolling soon.
Once we are rolling, please expect additional precautions as required by the facilities we use and for the safety of our players and families. We look forward to sharing more information with you in the future as we roll out more information on other age level assessments! You can stay up to date by visiting our social media on Facebook or Instagram and also on our website at www.fairbankshockey.org. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at arcticlions@fairbankshockey.org or alaskagrizlies@fairbankshockey.org.
Let’s Play Hockey!
#HearOurRoar