In an immediate response to Governor Dunleavey’s announcements on Thursday in regards to the increasing COVID-19 numbers throughout the state and the governor’s call for all state facilities to enlist stricter protocols; the City of Soldotna announced the closure of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex effective Friday, November 13th.
The closure will apply to all public use including ice facilities and meeting & conference areas. Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen and the Soldotna City Council hope that the move will be temporary and with the adherence to strict mandates, the SRSC will be able to reopen, sooner rather than later.
The closure effectively cancels the planned Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association Peninsula Power Play Tournament which, according to KPHA was scheduled for November 13-15 with 20 teams scheduled to attend–only three teams from KPHA.
Stephanie Queen addressed closure and scheduled tournament.
Queen expressed the difficulty of the decision to close the facility.
Queen also expressed to the Soldotna City Council her desire for the move to be temporary and the lack of a hard policy.
Councilman Jordan Chilson discussed with the council his concern over user groups abiding by the current SRSC mitigation plans.
The current COVID-19 protocol limits the number of spectators to 80 and the number of players, coaches and personnel to 40 total.
These limits were discussed on Oct.13th. An article explaining the current protocols for the Soldotna Regional Sports Center is available at https://radiokenai.net/srsc-capacity-guidelines-discussed-status-quo-maintained-by-soldotna-city-council/
Youth hockey programs including KPHA and the Northern Knight Hockey Club of Alaska are working with the SRSC and the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility to provide youth hockey under imposed mitigation plans.
The closure of the SRSC does not directly effect high school hockey or the Kenai River Brown Bears, yet!
In regards to the status high school hockey, which uses the SRSC for SoHi hockey practices and games and hosts the Peninsula Ice Challenge, the Alaska School Activities Association has established a revised start date for Division II hockey (Kenai, Homer and SoHi) for January 4th.
The Brown Bears are currently located in Minnesota and have a planned relocation to Soldotna for a January 15th Alaska opener.
