GTHL suspends their Season and Activities due to COVID-19

The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), also popular as the Metro Toronto Hockey League, has announced on Saturday (Oct 3) that the organization has decided to suspend their season and all official activities until at least January 1, 2021, in continuing efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in the capital of the Ontario province. The GTHL is a minor ice hockey organization located in the Greater Toronto Area of ​​Ontario.

The GTHL has stated that their decision to suspend season and all activities is made with the view of the recent rapid increase in the rate of COVID-19 infection in the Greater Toronto Area. In addition, the organization said that they are following the advice of Dr. Elin Devila, the Chief Medical Officer of Toronto, to avoid organizing sports activities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Scott Oakman, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at Greater Toronto Hockey League, has said in his statement, “The GTHL Board and its members understood that in the current environment, there could be times that we may have to step backwards in order to ensure the safety and well being of players, families and the community. Now is clearly the time to do that”.

Mr. Don West, President of the GTHL, has said on this matter that the volunteers and employees of the GTHL organization have been working hard to create the safest environment, but given the current situation, it is time for pause the league in order to avoid the risks related health and safety of all players and their families.

The league has confirmed that the activities include all off-ice and on-ice activities for all levels in minor hockey, competitive hockey and indoor leagues in Toronto, Mississauga, Markham and Vaughan.

After cancelling the season on March 12 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the GTHL previously released a staged plan to re-launch the hockey season in September. The league had informed that the new “staged” plan was in accordance with public health guidelines and was based on the expert opinions of medical experts from Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the Toronto Public Health Department. Later, it was expected that teams will resume the game on October 7.

In regard to COVID-19 transmission in Canada, the country has seen a surge in coronavirus infection in recent weeks and reported a total number of 168,784 confirmed cases which are under treatment and 9,504 deaths caused by the virus. However, 142,334 patients who tested positive to COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus, as of Tuesday (Oct 6).