It is finally in front of the bleachers that are only half filled that the World Junior Hockey Championship will take place… If nothing changes between now and December 26th.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced on Tuesday that amphitheatres that can accommodate more than 1,000 spectators can only be filled to 50% of their capacity.
Faced with the escalation of COVID-19 cases in the province, the Alberta government has also indicated that the sale of food and drink will be banned in arenas.
With these measures, the currently planned capacities are therefore 9,250 spectators at Rogers Place in Edmonton and 3,555 spectators at the Peavey Mart Centrium in Red Deer.
Hockey Canada fully supports the decision made by the Province of Alberta, and we will continue to do our part to ensure the health and safety of all World Juniors participants and the general public.
Hockey Canada, in a press release
Tuesday’s toll reported 786 new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, including 564 of the Omicron variant. The exponential growth of this variant continues; the weekend report showed 872 cases of Omicron over three days (average of 291 per day).
“If you have a positive result, just assume it’s the Omicron variant,” D dropped.D Deena Hinsaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Alberta, confirming that this was the dominant variant in circulation.
For now, each team must play a preparatory match while awaiting the official start of the World Championship on December 26. Originally there were three in the team program.
These meetings will all take place on December 23. Canada has a rendezvous with Russia in the evening at Rogers Place.