Published December 16, 2020
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Entering his ninth season as the head coach of the Lynnfield High hockey team, it will be the most challenging one for Jon Gardner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the sport won’t have as many rule changes by the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) as some of the other sports like soccer and basketball, there will be some rule changes players and coaches have to adapt to.
The main one on the ice is that a scrum along the boards can contain only one offensive and one defensive player. Once a third player gets involved, the official will stop play and a face-off will take place at the closest circle.
Another on-ice rule is that players preparing for a face-off must set up six feet apart until the official calls them in for the puck drop. The other players, on the face-off, must also be six-feet apart and face the direction of the face-off dot.
“The offenses can have a huge advantage with set pieces,” explained Gardner, if the offensive team can win the face-off. “When it comes to the scrums, it puts a lot more pressure on the one-on-one battles. Sometimes a third player might come in on purpose if a team is tired so they can get a line change.”
Players, coaches and officials all must wear masks at all times and the officials have to use electronic whistles.
Active rosters are dropped from 22 players to 20 and team benches must be expanded for proper social distancing.
“That will be difficult because each rink is different,” said Gardner.
Only one player can be in the penalty box. If a second player gets a penalty during that time, a designated socially distance box must be used. Once the first player is out of the box, the other player, depending of the setup of the rink, can be moved there.
When it comes to the rules of the Cape Ann League, the Pioneers will play a 10-game schedule as they will play the large schools twice and the small ones one.
There will be no MIAA state tournament, although the CAL will try to play a league one after the regular season.
Lynnfield High School has also stated that fans will not be allowed at games to start the season.
“I feel bad for the parents who have put in all those hours bringing their kids to the rink over the years,” said Gardner. “I especially feel bad for the senior parents.”
The Pioneers are slated to open the season on Jan. 2 at home against Pentucket at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.
“I am just happy to be back,” said Gardner.
Last winter, Lynnfield lost 5-2 to North Andover in the first round of the Division 2 North state tournament to end up at 11-8-2 overall.
