COVID cancellations: Organizers forced to scrap popular Maritime sporting events
The dramatic rise in the number of Omicron cases from coast-to-coast has forced dozens of institutions to postpone or cancel their plans — shattering hopes of a return to normalcy to start off 2022.
A month ago, teams were celebrating on the ice and there were fans in the stands at a hockey tournament in Glace Bay, N.S.
But now, the ice is empty.
“It's disappointing because it's your grade 12 year and knowing what it means to play for your school and have that home crowd,” said Rob MacNamara.
MacNamara's son, Ryan, is in his final year of high school and should be on the ice this weekend suiting up for the Sydney Academy Wildcats.
Instead, Ryan’s dream of playing in the Sydney Academy Blue and White High School Hockey Tournament isn't going to happen, with the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling the tournament for a second straight year.
“Anyone that has played for a high school team knows that home crowd is a big lift during the game and when you get to host your own tournament it certainly makes a difference,” said MacNamara. “Its just disappointing that players like my son, who have played the last two years, haven't had the experience.”
In New Brunswick, more than 115 teams pre-registered to play in the World Pond Hockey Championship.
“There was a number of factors on December 1st that said lets just tap the break. We will get this 20th anniversary event in at some point, it just might take 22 years to get it done,” said Danny Braun, World Pond Hockey president.
Thousands of people have come from all over the world to play - or watch - the iconic event. Not having the World Pond Hockey Championship two years in a row is a blow to the local economy.
“It's something that for 19 years has provided an influx of revenue to local and businesses regionally. Teams stay as far away as Grand Falls, Perth-Andover, Woodstook, Edmunston,” said Braun.
In New Waterford, a popular basketball tournament has also been sidelined. It's an event the entire community looks forward to.
“We won't be having Coal Bowl this year. It's just impossible,” said Lowell Cormier, vice-chair of the tournament. “It's really discouraging. We need some light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully next year we will have that light."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.