ARENAS CONFORM TO CHANGES

HOCKEY VENUES ADAPT TO CONSTANT-CHANGING COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

By Rick Weegman rweegman@duluthnews.com

Zarley Ziemski is convinced that he and his Duluth East boys hockey teammates contracted COVID-19 before anyone suspected the world-changing illness had crossed Minnesota’s border.

The Greyhounds senior forward became sick, along with around 20 teammates, in January 2020 at a time when the novel coronavirus was still a mystery.

East postponed four games during the period of illness that spread throughout the varsity and junior varsity.

“I think that was COVID,” Ziemski said. “The doctor just said we had influenza. I tested negative for influenza and they said I had pneumonia and to go home and rest.”

Ziemski said he had a fever and struggled breathing though he doesn’t recall losing his sense of smell or taste, which many coronavirus victims claim happens.

While Ziemski’s assessment would be hard to prove, what has happened in the ensuing year is undeniable: The

COVID-19 pandemic has altered life as we know it.

Among the numerous changes is how hockey arenas have adopted strict protocols for entry into their buildings.

That was on full display Jan. 14 on opening night of the high school hockey season when the Duluth Denfeld and Duluth East boys teams met at Essentia Duluth Heritage Center.

Players must come to games and practices dressed in uniform and are not allowed to use the locker rooms. They can’t carry big bags into the arena, and sit in chairs 6 feet apart in a hallway to put on their skates. Their temperature is taken as they enter the arena — they can’t get in for practices until 10 minutes before their scheduled ice time — masks must be worn and social distancing observed.

On game nights, only 150 people — or 25% of capacity at larger arenas — are allowed in the Heritage Center’s main rink under Minnesota Department of Health guidelines.

That is the biggest complaint, Heritage Center general manager Shari Olson says.

“Right now, people are getting a little COVID tired,” Olson said. “They are tired of dealing with it so they are a little bit frustrated. They would like to see a normal season and be able to participate any way they want to, but unfortunately since we are still dealing with the (higher) numbers, we have to limit them to two spectators per player.

“There isn’t an arena manager or staff in the state of Minnesota who doesn’t want to throw open the doors and say, ‘We want you back and we want you to have fun.’ We are looking forward to that day.”

Once the Department of Health comes up its with ever-changing guidelines, the Minnesota Ice Arena Managers Association, the Amateur Sports Commission and Minnesota Hockey work together to distribute the information.

“The problem on our side is that it’s such short notice,” Olson said. “They are watching the (COVID-19) numbers (rise or fall) and I understand where they are coming from, but when you have to turn on a dime and generate a new policy and get that information out to everybody, it makes it challenging.”

East boys coach Mike Randolph has been dealing with Heritage’s protocols ever since holding his summer camp there.

“Shari runs a tight ship,” Randolph said. “After having my camp this past summer, it was as tight of arena protocol as I’ve seen across the state. She does a great job of following the guidelines presented to her. It’s very well run and a lot of thought has been put into it, considering the layout of the building.”

Randolph hopes with the increased awareness, his team won’t experience another shutdown like last season. One drawback, he says, is the lack of team bonding that the locker room and long bus rides used to build.

“It’s sad that they are spending, as a team off the ice, such little time together,” Randolph said. “It’s a big piece that is missing. I’m not complaining, the kids are on the ice. I just hope in time it gets back to normal and they can experience that part of a normal season.”