To ensure the health and well-being of all ice hockey participants and spectators, and in cooperation with our rink facilities, KVHA will utilize these Return to Play Standards for the 2020-2021 Season during Phases 4-6 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan.   This plan has been designed using recommendations of the MAHA, USA Hockey, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services, as well as Executive Orders 2020-175, 176 and 180 signed by Governor Whitmer.   Collectively, this provides the rink and our association members a path to safely operate while minimizing possible risks tied to COVID-19.

• Teams skating on East Rink should use the East rink doors to enter and exit the building.   Locker room assignments will be placed by the entry doors 
• Teams skating on South rink should use the South door to enter and exit the rink  
• Hartland Pond guests should use the new East entrance .   Locker room assignments will be placed  on a board near the entrance.  
• Please arrive no more than 30 minutes before your scheduled ice time
• 2 locker rooms will be provided for each sheet of ice
• Skaters may also use the open benches and chairs throughout the rink to dress
• Players may come dressed or dress in the parking lot and put on skates, helmet, etc once in the building
• Face covering should be worn at all times, including on the ice 
• Live spectators are limited to two (2) guests per athlete
• Please maintain social distancing of 6 feet at all times
• Keep the lobby clear - No congregating  - Do not leave bags
• Each skater must bring their own pre-filled water bottle
• No spitting, no sharing of water bottles, equipment, towels, etc.
• Top Shelf is open for carry-out, Concession stand is closed

We trust that those entering the facility who have pre-existing conditions or are immunocompromised have seriously evaluated any and all potential risks posed by either entering the facility or deciding to play hockey at this time.   We will enforce rules to the best of our ability per MAHA and State mandates but cannot guarantee a 100% risk-free environment.

Effective 9/1/2020, the USA Hockey general liability policy contains a communicable disease exclusion, which will exclude coverage for claims alleging illness or injury due to exposure to communicable disease, viruses and specifically COVID-19.

Everyone participating in hockey and its related activities, at this time, should understand and assume all risk associated with direct or indirect contact with individuals who have been exposed to and/or diagnosed with one or more communicable diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19 or other medical conditions, diseases, or maladies, and/or any mutation or variation thereof does exist and it is impossible to eliminate the risk of possible infection due to contact with or close proximity to an individual with a communicable disease.  

If a player or coach tests positive for Covid19, please follow these guidelines:

• All team activities should be suspended until the investigation can take place with the Livingston County Health Department (LCHD)
• The Head coach or manager should construct a timeline relative to the date of the positive test including last practice, last game and upcoming events, plus identify any opponents, referees, trainers or other individuals who may have been exposed  
• Head coach or manager should inform the families on the team immediately of the positive test result 
  • Keep all identities anonymous
  • All email communication to the team regarding the positive test result should be copied to the office
    • Send a basic email that team personnel or a player (all anonymous) tested positive and that you are working with the Health department to determine the next steps 
    • Send the KVHA Office a copy of your timeline and please identify any teams that shared ice with you for practice or games.  Office can assist you in notifying outside parties, if needed. 
• Report the positive case and your timeline of events to the LCHD via phone or email and they will provide the team with further guidance.  It is not the Association's responsibility to advise on whether to quarantine, get tested, etc.  
  • Main Line - Phone: 517-546-9850
  • Email: COVID19@livgov.com
  • OR contact LCHD Epidemiologist, Emma Harman - 517-552-6836; eharman@livgov.com
• Once the Health Department provides guidance, please communicate that to your team as well as to the KVHA Office
  • You may need to quarantine the entire team or just certain individuals - LCHD will advise
  • Communicate with any teams who shared ice surfaces with your team, as recommended by the LCHD 
  • KVHA will help you sell or trade your ice but unfortunately you will still be responsible for the ice if you dont sell or trade it
  • KVHA will notify the MAHA of the positive case, timeline and recommendations on the team's behalf 

If a parent tests positive with minimal exposure to the team, it is recommended that the parent follow their physician's or the testing agency's recommendations with regard to quarantine, treatment, follow -up, etc.     

The goal of the Health Department is to provide instructions on quarantine and treatment, while interviewing those testing positive to help them identify the people they were in contact with during their infectious period.  When they notify close contacts of their potential exposure they are interviewed to see if they have symptoms, offer testing, and arrange for care if they are ill.   They will also provide instructions on quarantine and/or testing if recommended.   

The Health department is the agency that has the ability to shut us down if our teams do not comply or report cases timely.  We are asking for your cooperation in both reporting, as well as follow up, to ensure that all of our teams can continue skating this season.    

The Health Department is not being unreasonable, they want to ensure that they are able to minimize the spread of the disease to keep vulnerable folks in our community safe as well as to keep our businesses, schools and rinks open.  Please do your part in cooperating with them.  

While we know that there are no activities that are risk free from viruses and germs, there are some key factors within our sport that contribute to safety. Consider:

• Hockey players are covered in equipment head to toe (unlike most other sports).
• Ice rinks have significant HVAC systems to regularly circulate fresh air into the facility.
• USA Hockey provides a controlled environment with players having to register and those players rostered on a team.  It is known exactly who is on the ice; groups are together for the season; and there is no co-mingling.
• Studies show players are within a six-foot radius of another player for less than three minutes per game. Players are on average on “immediate proximity” (actual contact with another player) for under two seconds per incident.
• With the significant size of the playing surface and facilities, there are responsible ways forward to conduct the sport keeping social distancing and hygiene at the forefront.