Release from 11.02.2022

Games #255 and #270 will not be played by HCB

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HCB Südtirol Alperia has declared itself "unfit to play" up to and including Sunday, February 13 due to health reasons, after a request for a game postponement was not granted following an extensive review by the independent Covid Special Commission. As a result, the scheduled matches against EC-KAC, originally scheduled for Friday, February 11, and the match against Hydro Fehérvár AV19, scheduled for Sunday, February 13, will not be played. The two games will be scored 5-0 in favor of the opposing teams based on the decision of the Covid Special Commission, applying the rules set forth in the Covid 19 Appendix of the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League.

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Multi-stage procedure evaluates the situation
The Covid-19 "Return to Play" program requires that the results of tightly administered corona tests be submitted to the league organization on a regular basis. A team may submit an "unfit to play" request for Covid cases. When a club submits a request to postpone a game, the medical committee assesses the infectious event and, taking into account all available information, makes a statement of facts and a recommendation to the Covid Special Committee. In the second step, the Covid Special Commission decides whether the team has enough players available according to the squad sheet who are "fit to play" according to the Covid 19 Appendix. Absences, due to non-Covid-relevant reasons, such as injuries or players who are not available due to a cooperation agreement with other clubs, are not considered by the Covid Special Commission.

The current case of HCB Südtirol Alperia
The Medical Commission, unlike the three previous HCB postponements, was no longer able to detect an active infection at HCB Südtirol Alperia on Thursday. HCB's squad sheet includes 27 players. Of those, nine players are ineligible due to Covid protocol (infection, quarantine). Thus, HCB has 18 players who are "fit to play" according to the Covid-19 appendix. The league rules stipulate that players from cooperation teams are of course also to be called up for action. A postponement of the match could therefore not be agreed to by the Covid Special Commission.

It is also important for the bet-at-home ICE Hockey League to note that it is aware of the great social responsibility that a professional sports league bears in times of a worldwide pandemic. Both medical and organizational measures have been taken to ensure that the championship can be held as planned - always bearing in mind that the health of everyone involved must be guaranteed to the best possible extent.