A reality check harder than any hockey check

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It took just one sentence to deliver a hefty reality check to ice hockey and its hopes for the 2020-21 season.

 “Let me reaffirm that with social distancing, sport at our level is simply not viable.”

 If that doesn’t stop every fan in their tracks, nothing will.

 As chief operating officer at Glasgow Clan, Gareth Chalmers is better placed than most to deliver a view on the bigger picture as the sport prepares for an extended period in limbo.

 He also said more of substance in one interview with The Herald than the league has revealed across the whole of summer.

 You have to rewind to April 22 to find the latest update from the EIHL when it announced provisional dates for the new Magic 5 weekend in Nottingham involving all ten teams.
Since then, it has fallen silent.

 While clubs are announcing signings and building teams - and that work has to continue in readiness for any potential re-start -  fans remain no further informed about the 2020-21 season. You can kiss goodbye to any notion that we'll all be in Nottingham in October for  a start ...

 Chalmers’ clear assertion on the impact of social distancing underlines why the season may not even start.

 He told the Herald: “The start of the season is very much reliant on social distancing and how that develops.

 “ Let me reaffirm that with social distancing, sport at our level is simply not viable … it  simply doesn’t add up the club starting the season with reduced capacity for home games. 

 "It would be fatal to even attempt to start the season.”

 Hockey clubs rely on gate money. Games between Clan and Fife Flyers have pulled in full houses - back to back, that’s in excess of 5000 fans in two rinks over one weekend.

 Social distancing would scythe that number to the bone. It makes it financially unfeasible. Chalmers' use of the word 'fatal' was telling.

 Hockey, a sport that thrives on crowds packed into old-style rinks and modern arenas, has nowhere to go right now.

 It is entirely in the hands of our Governments, and relaxing rules on mass gatherings indoors is still months away.

 Football fans are unlikely to get back into grounds before October, so it stands to reason that sports such as hockey will be delayed even further. 

Many fans don't anticipate being rinkside again until 2021. The sport has a huge job on its hands keeping them engaged and involved until then.

 Keeping them informed is vital.


Full interview with Gareth Chalmers here:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18554097.glasgow-clan-ceo-gives-update-recruitment-intu-future-league/

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