Massachusetts Suspends Hockey For 2 Weeks Following COVID Spread

MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts is forbidding indoor ice skating rinks and facilities to host hockey games, essentially shutting the sport down for at least two weeks. The suspension of games and practices takes effect Friday and will remain until Nov. 7, Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Margaret Cooke said in an order issued Thursday night.

Cooke said there have been at least 30 coronavirus clusters connected to organized ice hockey in the state, leading to 108 confirmed cases and more than 225 exposed contacts. At least 66 cities and towns have had at least one coronavirus case associated with the sport, she said.

The shutdown comes hours after the state deemed 77 communities at high risk of coronavirus spread in its weekly report.

New Hampshire is also in the midst of a two-week shutdown on ice hockey following coronavirus clusters connected to the sport.