Monroe County Withdraws Permission for Youth Ice Hockey 

Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Michael Mendoza and the Monroe County Department of Public Health are withdrawing permission for youth ice hockey and suspending all types of play, including games, competitions, tournaments, scrimmages and competitive practice, within Monroe County. Individual or distanced group training and organized no/low-contact group training may continue.

This applies to all K-12 public and private school ice hockey teams and ice hockey club teams, and goes into effect on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, until further notice. The MCDPH will reevaluate this decision in two weeks, or sooner if appropriate.

“As per New York State guidance, higher risk sports competitions may occur only as permitted by local health authorities. In Monroe County, we are seeing a substantial and growing number of COVID-19 cases related to ice hockey, more so than other higher risk sports,” Dr. Mendoza said.

In addition to suspending play, Dr. Mendoza and the Department of Public Health are urging individuals who were at the Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex, 2700 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd., on Saturday, March 27, and Sunday, March 28, including in connection with a youth ice hockey tournament those days, to immediately self-quarantine and contact the Monroe County COVID-19 Hotline at 585-753-5555 as soon as possible.

In Monroe County to-date, 27 individuals who were at the Bill Gray’s facility for the tournament have tested positive for COVID-19. Other counties are also reporting positive cases associated with the tournament. Based on the information available to the MCDPH, approximately 240 players, coaches and spectators attended the tournament throughout the weekend.

The MCDPH would like to remind everyone of the critical importance of cooperating with our contact tracing investigators, especially as we experience an upward trend in our positivity rate. Contact tracing is essential to controlling the spread of the virus and protecting the health and safety of everyone in our community.

In general, the Monroe County Department of Public Health does not comment on potential or confirmed cases of COVID-19 concerning specific individuals, businesses or institutions unless doing so is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to public health.