Local ringette season called off

The ringette season is officially over in Medicine Hat.

The Medicine Hat Ringette Association announced the news in a Thursday release.

“The decision was a hard one to make,” MHRA president Jay Pinnell says in the release. “We all wanted to get back to the sport we love but we just couldn’t make it happen under all the limitations.”

The release adds ringette has not been permitted by the provincial government since restrictions on team sports came into place in December. Ringette Calgary — the league in which Medicine Hat competes — then opted to cancel its scheduled games for the season. While new guidelines for team sports came in shortly thereafter, the release states a number of factors led to the decision to call off the campaign.

“With the numerous challenges of keeping athletes three metres apart at all times, limited change room access, no spectators/ parents allowed in local facilities and possible 24-day quarantines for volunteer coaches, the MHRA ultimately decided it would be best to end the season a few weeks early,” reads the release.

With only half the season completed, MHRA will be refunding 50 per cent of paid season fees to members. MHRA is also exploring the possibility of offering skill development camps within current restrictions. Anyone interested can inquire at athletedev@mhringette.com.