Falcons opener cancelled
The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League already has an issue surrounding COVID vaccinations and the regular season hasn’t even begun.
According to a Tweet sent out by the St. Catharines Falcons, their home opener scheduled for this Friday has been cancelled.
“Please be advised that due to unforeseen circumstances, the St. Catharines Falcons home game versus the Caledonia Corvairs on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled. Per GOJHL Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the Falcons will receive two points in the GOJHL standings and credited with the win.
“Further information regarding the cancellation will not be provided at this time.
“The Falcons home opener has been changed to Friday, Oct. 1 at the Jack Gatecliff Arena where they will take on the Hamilton Kilty B’s at 7 p.m.”
Falcons general manager Frank Girhiny was naturally disappointed with the news.
“We had a lot of dignitaries coming in and were planning for a pretty big night, especially against Caledonia,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s the way of the times.
“We had a pretty good training camp and were excited to play Caledonia in the first game of the year.”
The Falcons will now open the season Saturday in Fort Erie followed by a game in Thorold Monday.
GOJHL chairman Scott Miller of Caledonia confirmed the Corvairs are short players.
“We are short nine players by a week,” Miller said. “They have all had their second shot, they just haven’t had it in time.
“It’s very disappointing. When we brought these kids into camp we asked them and some didn’t have it (second vaccination) and they didn’t follow up on it right away like they should have.”
The Corvairs will also miss their home opener Saturday versus the Niagara Falls Canucks.
Miller confirmed the Corvairs will be fully vaccinated and have completed the two-week waiting period by next week.
The (GOJHL) requires that all GOJHL “Player Access Personnel” (players, coaches, trainers, team and league staff, officials, volunteers and billet families) be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with vaccine(s) approved for use by Health Canada by the first day of the GOJHL Regular Season, Sept. 24.
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