OWHA COVID-19 Update - Feb 2, 2022

Jan. 28, 2022

OWHA Bulletin February 2, 2022

OWHL Southern (Formerly LLFHL) -

Based on the number of changes to scheduling that have had to take place due to the pandemic, the following amendments have been made to the 2021-2022 league scheduling to allow for the most amount of hockey to be played at all levels across all leagues.

This best allows for a culmination of the 2021-2022 season. We understand the difficulties ALL centres are facing because of the lengthy restriction period. Please work with other centres to the best of your ability to schedule games. It is strongly encouraged that All scheduled games should proceed up until March 20^th, 2022. We have been very pleased with the cooperation shown by OWHA Members throughout the pandemic, as they work together to support all players who benefit greatly from practices and game play. We do anticipate that this cooperation and focus on fairness for players on all teams will drive scheduling as we move forward. The OWHA reserves the right to make final and binding decisions on scheduling and standings where OWHA determines, in its opinion, that schedules are being manipulated or games that can take place are not being honoured. The following amendments apply only to this season due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Adjustments:

Regular season end date will remain March 20, 2022.
For regular season games the usual pick-up player rules apply, however, If a regular season game is also being used as a provincial playdown game, pick-up players are not permitted to be used.
Emphasis should be placed on scheduling games with any team in your division you have NOT yet played. A balanced schedule of results is the primary goal. Seeding will be based on Win Percentage of total number of games completed.

Win percentage is total number of games won in relation to total number of games played.

In cases where teams are tied in win-percentage/ points the following tie-breaker rules will be applied, in order until all ties are broken.

In cases of 2 teams tied:

Head-to-Head record
Goals scored minus goals against in regular season play;
Fewest goals allowed in regular season play;
Fewest penalty minutes in regular season play;
First goal scored in series;
Flip of a coin

In Cases of 3 or more teams tied:

Number of wins;
Record against other tied teams;
Goals scored minus the goals against in regular season games;
Fewest goals allowed in regular season play;
Most periods won in round regular season play;
Fewest penalty minutes in regular season play;
First goal scored in series;
Flip of a coin.

Top TWO (2) teams from each division will advance to a quarter-final round where there are 4 divisions or less (then next best win percentage)

ONE (1) Team from each division will advance to a quarter final round where 5 or more divisions exist. To round out an 8 team quarter final grouping, teams will be added based on overall win percentage where necessary.

i.e., if 6 divisions exist, top team from each division will advance THEN next two best win percentage overall for the remaining two spots.

i.e., if 4 divisions exist, top 2 teams in each division will advance to quarter final

Top 8 Teams coming out of league play will play a one-game quarterfinal elimination game (scheduled between the two opponents) during the period of March 20-25, 2022. Matchups will be cross-divisional with next closest geographical division. Higher seed to host (based on win %), unless agreed on otherwise between the two teams based on ice availability for centres.
Winners of Quarter-Final games will advance to a semi-final single elimination game, to be played between March 26-31, 2022.
Winners of Semi-Final games will advance to Championship Day on either April 2^nd or 3^rd 2022. This will be a one-game championship.
In cases of ties in Playoff and Championship games: One (1) 5-minute stop-time overtime period will take place. If the game is still tied, a 3-player shootout will take place. If the game is still tied, a sudden-death shootout will commence until a winner is determined.

Player Eligibility for Playoff Games/ Championship Game:

Eligibility for Playoffs and Championship: A Player must have been rostered with the team on or before December 31, 2021 to be eligible for the Playoffs and Championship. (there is no game minimum this year due to the on-going pandemic)
Pickup players are not eligible for Playoff games or Championship games. However, in certain circumstances, a team may be permitted to pick up a goaltender. If a team’s goaltender is injured or unavailable for a legitimate reason, that team must apply, with proper documentation, to the OWHA Office for permission to pick up a goaltender. The OWHA Registrar will decide whether to grant such permission. If permission is granted, the team’s designated goaltenders will be ineligible to play. The pickup goaltender must be currently registered with an OWHA team, either in the same category or a lower one.

Note: For playoff games, ensure adequate ice time is booked taking into consideration the possibility of overtime scenarios, so there are no curfew issues.

Note: All OWHA provincial playdown rules are to be followed in cases where a game is being used for both league play and OWHA provincial playdowns.

Fees for OWHL Championship Day: $400 - for all age levels/categories.

*Subject to change at the discretion of the OWHA

OWHA Bulletin January 28, 2022

The Province of Ontario has updated O. Reg. 364/20 (RULES FOR AREAS AT STEP 3 AND AT THE ROADMAP EXIT STEP) under the REOPENING ONTARIO (A FLEXIBLE RESPONSE TO COVID-19) ACT, 2020.

This Regulation comes into force on January 31, 2022.

IMPACT ON OWHA

Commencing January 31, 2022, OWHA teams may resume sanctioned hockey activities that include games and practices providing they are in compliance with all OWHA requirements, including but not limited to OWHA updates that are available on the OWHA web site (www.owha.on.ca).

IMPORTANT NOTES

The OWHA, PHUs, municipalities may have policies and procedures that are more restrictive than the rules in the Regulation and the most restrictive requirement must be followed.
Please be reminded that protocols such as masking, physical distancing and QR codes for vaccinations and active screening remain in place.
Please be advised of the following NEW Information:

a. The total number of members of the public who are permitted to be in an indoor area of the facility at any one time shall not exceed 50 per cent capacity.
b. The total number of members of the public who are permitted to be in an indoor spectator area of the facility at any one time shall not exceed 50 per cent of the area’s usual seating capacity or 500 persons, whichever is less.
c. Every indoor spectator must remain seated while consuming food or drink.
d. The requirement for a facility to record the name and contact information of every member of the public who enters the facility has been revoked. As a result, the OWHA does not require such records to be taken or kept. See also Note #1 above.
e. The process and timing of managing positive COVID-19 tests, exposure to COVID-19, requirements for symptomatic individuals, requirement, and length of quarantine and/or isolation and other scenarios related to COVID19 are to be managed in accordance with current national, provincial and PHU policies and procedures and the most restrictive requirement must be followed.

OWHA Provincials Memo

DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: Monday, January 31, 2022, 11:00 p.m.

OVERVIEW

On January 31, 2022, hockey practices and games are permitted to resume in the Province of Ontario
The 2022 OWHA Provincial Championships are currently scheduled for April 7th to 10th
Ice is currently blocked at multiple facilities
The event was cancelled for the last 2 years due to the pandemic
The pandemic is still active and, if we move forward, the event could be cancelled at any time before or during the event
We are committed to facing the risks and challenges and move forward with plans to hold a provincial championship that is adapted to health and safety requirements
The physical and mental health of participants is of primary importance.

ACTION ITEMS

Teams commit, in writing, to participation in playdowns and provincials by Monday, January 31, 2022 - DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: Monday, January 31, 2022, 11:00 p.m.
Playdowns commence as soon as possible AFTER Thursday, February 3, 2022

OWHA PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Kind Regards,

Ontario Women’s Hockey Association

OWHA Bulletin January 4, 2022

Due to the increasing transmissions of COVID-19, including the ever-growing appearance of the highly infectious OMICRON variant, the Province of Ontario announced on January 3, 2022, that it is returning to modified Step 2 of the Reopening Plan based on O. Reg. 263/20: Rules for areas in Step 2.

Starting Wednesday, January 5, 2022, in accordance with provincial regulations, all indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms will be closed except for athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and select professional and elite amateur sport leagues.

All OWHA in-person programming of any kind will be paused, in its entirety, effective 12:01 AM Wednesday, January 5, 2022 and will not resume until 12:01 AM on January 27, 2022 unless the Province of Ontario removes the current restrictions or makes changes to the current legislation (O.Reg.263/20).

The only possible exceptions to the information above may be some flexibility for Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and/or OWHL Elite U22 (PWHL) leagues/teams. We have been in contact with government representatives who are waiting for an approved framework from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. This information may be available to us by the end of the week. Once we receive the framework, we will review the materials to determine whether programming is possible and what requirements and/or restrictions would apply. Accordingly, until further notice, all in-person activities for the PWHPA and/or OWHL Elite U22 (PWHL) leagues/teams are paused.

We thank you for your attention to this bulletin. The OWHA will continue to monitor any changes and will post updates regarding OWHA sanctioned programming.

Kind Regards,
Ontario Women’s Hockey Association

COVID-19 Update December 24, 2021

Attention OWHA Members,

Important documents and memos are now posted on the OWHA website.

You can access them via the links below.

OWHA COVID-19 Bulletin (December 24^th, 2021)

Click Here

OWHA Rowan’s Law Update (December 24^th, 2021)

Click Here

REMINDER: WORLD JUNIORS 50/50 DRAW - see OWHA website: www.owha.on.ca

Kind Regards,

Ontario Women’s Hockey Association