Pictou County sports impacted by COVID-19

We don’t need to say that a hockey playoff series or a ball game means nothing when compared to what’s happening around the world with the COVID-19 virus, because that would be stating the obvious.

The phrase “it’s only a game” has rarely been more applicable.

“Health and safety is more important than hockey, obviously, but it was a tough pill to swallow,” said Crushers general manager Chad McDavid, whose team fought all year to make it into the playoffs for the first time in three years, and had their first-round matchup with the Amherst Ramblers cancelled.

“I feel for a guy like (20-yearold defenceman) Aiden Hickey, who missed the playoffs his first two years here.”

Hickey, like all 20-yearolds, is done playing junior hockey, and “it would have been rewarding for him to finally get a taste of the playoffs,” McDavid said.

“But, here we are.”

The decision by Hockey Canada to postpone all tournaments and games from coastto-coast was the only choice that could be made, albeit disappointing for all the players, coaches, parents and fans.

They work hard all year to get to this point, but this isn’t the time to grumble about what is, after all, a small matter on a very big ship.

“It’s country-wide and we shouldn’t complain about it,” said Jon Sim, coach of the Pictou County Major Bantams, who won their first game on March 12 at the provincial championship tournament in Antigonish, but would learn later that day their season was over.

Just like that, even though we should have seen it coming, really.

And it’s not just the Major Bantams, as Sim pointed out, ticking off a list of local teams that saw their season halted.

“We were all having a good year,” Sim said. “Everyone has a story now – what could have, should have, would have been. It’s disappointing for the kids, and all the players who are being affected.”

▪ The Northern Subways Female AAA Selects were in a provincial championship series and that is finished, as is the Pictou County Weeks Major Midgets’ playoff run: Weeks were on the verge of earning a spot in the league championship series and had a legitimate chance to win a title, an opportunity now lost.

▪ It’s not just hockey, as nine locals were to attend the national indoor track and field championships, but that, like so many other events we take for granted, was cancelled.

▪ Gymnastics Nova Scotia has suspended activities throughout the province.

▪ The indoor sports facility in Stellarton is closed until further notice.

▪ The Pictou County Athletics Run, Jump & Throw program, due to start after the March break, has been delayed until April 29. Registration days for all other programs will stay as planned for now: April 2 and 3 at the track building.

NON-SPORTS THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK

▪ Some people have suggested we might be overreacting to COVID-19, but I don’t think so. Even if we are, over-reacting is exactly what was necessary, when one considers the circumstances.

▪ People vacationing down south need to stop worrying about how their travel plans are affected. They also need to stop going, because we don’t want you bringing back a special gift from your holiday experience.