TO: All Hockey Nova Scotia members
FROM: Hockey Nova Scotia Risk Management Committee
DATE: January 22, 2020

SUBJECT: Hockey Nova Scotia winter travel protocol
  officials from safely traveling on highways to games, the following protocols are to be used:
Safety of the players and on-ice officials is the primary concern. However, teams should make
every effort to play scheduled games when possible.

• Contact Road Conditions – 511 (or 1.888.780.4440 outside Nova Scotia):
Road Conditions –511 can be accessed by telephone or online. It is an official source of
transportationinformation necessary to plan safe trips across Nova Scotia. It is also the place to report
weather conditions or an incident on Nova Scotia's major highways. The information covers
highway conditions, roadwork, major incidents, weather alerts, availability of ferry services and
park information. Users within Nova Scotia may access the information via phone toll-free by
calling 5-1-1 (similar to the way they would call 9-1-1 for emergencies or 4-1-1 for directory
assistance). Computer and mobile device users may visit the 511 website at 511.novascotia.ca.

• If weather warnings or alerts are in effect during the window of scheduled travel to and/or
from the destination arena, the travelling team officials are to make the decision if the game is
to be cancelled based on all available information.

• If weather warnings or alerts are not in effect when the local conditions would adversely
affect safe travel, the home team officials are to advise the traveling team and a decision made
to cancel the game. Further, the traveling team can also cancel the game when local conditions
would adversely affect safe travel.

• If a game is cancelled, the travelling team officials are to contact the head coach or manager
of the home team and advise them of the decision not to travel and that game cancellation is
necessary. The travelling team officials are also to advise the Regional Director, Conference
Coordinator, or League Officer responsible for game scheduling.

• The home team is to advise the on-ice officials that the scheduled game is cancelled.

• Games cancelled due to inclement weather may be postponed or re-scheduled.

• The foregoing protocol is meant to help teams make appropriate decisions regarding the
safety of their players and officials. Parents may also make decisions regarding the safe
transportation of their own children on Nova Scotia highways. Parents may choose not to travel
under certain weather conditions. Hockey Nova Scotia supports the parent’s rights to make
these decisions.

• Hockey Nova Scotia does not monitor highway conditions or team's schedules.

Group Travel: When a team is traveling outside of parental transportation and/or supervision,
it is recommended that a passenger and route manifest (including an itinerary outlining
scheduled stops as well as departure and arrival times) be created and distributed. A contact
person should be identified prior to departure. This person should be responsible for
communicating important information, especially in the event of an emergency.

Sincerely,
Risk Management Committee
Hockey Nova Scotia

Click the link to download the document: Hockey Nova Scotia Winter Travel Protocol