2021/2022 Season – What to Expect

All information in this document is current as of writing on October 26th and is subject to change.

Entering the Arenas

Please understand that the facilities we play and practice in are publicly accessible buildings, and the entry rules and requirements are established by the City of Mississauga, not the Mississauga Hockey League (MHL). Rules for entering the facilities may be different from the rules for participating in MHL team activities.

The City is required to record contact information for any customer that enters a facility to support Public Health contact tracing efforts if required. You will be asked to provide a name and contact phone number (1 per family) to a Facility Ambassador on entry to the facility. You will also be asked to review the City screening questions. Beginning October 20th, you can utilize the City of Mississauga Online Contract Tracing Form or scan a QR code at the arena entry to expedite this process.

As required by Government of Ontario regulations, starting September 22nd proof of vaccination is required to enter a City facility subject to specific exemptions permitted by the regulations. Vaccination certificates with a QR code can be quickly processed with the Verify Ontario app. The following will be required at point of entry:

  • Either an Ontario Ministry of Health COVID-19 enhanced vaccination certificate with QR code or a regular vaccination certificate or another Government issued vaccination record if vaccinated outside of Ontario.
  • Acceptable identification which includes name & birthdate – photo ID is not required.

Due to an order from the Peel Medical Officer of Health, beginning November 1st, proof of vaccination will be required for everyone entering an arena facility. Exemptions for the proof of vaccination requirement include:

  • Any patron 12 years of age and older with written documentation from a physician or nurse practitioner indicating medical support for not being fully vaccinated and government issued identification.
  • Youth under 12 years of age.

All persons entering City facilities must wear a face covering that securely covers the nose, mouth and chin as required under the City of Mississauga by-law. There are some exemptions to the face covering requirement including children under the age of 2 and people with medical conditions or receiving accommodations allowed by the regulations. Physical distancing of 2 metres (6 feet) is always required, except during sport activity. Persons who are engaged in on-ice activity are exempt only while on the ice.

Effective Monday October 25th, under the Province’s Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term, capacity restrictions on building lobbies, dressing rooms and bleachers  have been ended. This allows for regular access to all areas of the arena facilities.

The City has advised the MHL that only 4 arenas will operate their snack bars this year – Iceland, Meadowvale, Paramount and Port Credit. All other arenas will have vending machines available for beverages or snacks.

Participating in Team Activities

The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) is the governing body of the MHL and establishes rules by which the MHL must abide. On August 25th the GTHL released Game Plan 2.0 which set the minimum standard for Return to Hockey within the GTHL’s jurisdiction. You can access a complete copy of the Game Plan 2.0 document on either the MHL or the GTHL website.

As a condition of participating in any sanctioned hockey activities, the GTHL has established a policy requiring the following Affected Persons to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (including the 14-day period after receiving their completed dose) by November 1, 2021:

  • Players born in 2009 or earlier
  • Game Officials (referees, linespersons, timekeepers)
  • MHL Officials (Directors and staff of the MHL)
  • Association Officials (Directors)
  • Team Officials (coaches, trainers and managers and team safety reps)
  • Volunteers serving in any other capacity.

The GTHL will comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and provide accommodation up to the point of undue hardship to any Affected Person who is unable to be vaccinated for substantiated medical reasons and/or on grounds protected under the OHRC. Requests for accommodations must be made direct to the GTHL.

Any Affected Person who has not been granted an accommodation and who has not received their completed series of an accepted COVID-19 Vaccine by October 17, or who has not disclosed their vaccination status by that date, will no longer be eligible to participate in any Sanctioned Activity until such time as they present satisfactory evidence that they are fully vaccinated.

As the holders of the contracts for ice rental for games and practices, the MHL or your Association are responsible for helping the City ensure  team activities comply with Provincial regulations and the GTHL Game Plan. As a result, the MHL and all six Associations have agreed to the following protocols to comply with Provincial, City and GTHL Game Plan 2.0 regulations.

  • Prior to attending any sanctioned activity (on or off-ice), every Team Participant & Game Official must self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms per Ontario Government requirements. The screening process can be completed using a variety of tools which will be explained by your Team Safety Rep or a League Official.
  • The screening result MUST be shown to the Team Safety Rep or a League Official and any other person, e.g.: a facility manager/administrator, who is legally permitted to require it.
  • If a Team Participant has one or more of the symptoms or answers YES to one or more of the screening questions, they should not enter the facility and should go home, self-isolate immediately and get tested.
  • Masks are to be worn at all times in dressing rooms & corridors. This includes during any pre or post game team gathering inside the dressing room.
  • Players are strongly encouraged to fill their water bottles at home. Each player should ensure that their water bottle is clearly marked with their name. The sharing of water bottles is prohibited.
  • The sharing of hockey equipment is prohibited unless it is goaltender equipment at the house league level which has been properly cleaned and disinfected.
  • Players, Team Officials, and on-ice officials are NOT required to wear a face mask while on the ice engaging in physical activity but are required to do so at all other times, including in the dressing room prior to going on the ice.
  • Team Officials MUST always wear a face mask while on the bench.

Everyone’s goal this year is to provide as safe an environment as we possible can so that as many kids as possible can get back to playing the game they love with their friends for the entire season.