The GNWT released its updated Emerging Wisely document June 9, outlining how the territory will open up over the next few months.

When it comes to sports, it couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 come fast enough for some groups and the prevailing opinion is one of optimism sprinkled with some joy.

Under the new plan, both indoor and outdoor gatherings will be able to have a cap of 200 people without the need to apply for an exemption from the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO). Physical distancing is still recommended, as are masks if distancing canSA国际影视传媒檛 be done. For outdoor gatherings, the new number took effect as of June 9 with the indoor gathering increase expected to happen after the end of the school year.

Any gathering over 200 must get an exemption from the OCPHO before proceeding.

Brad Anstey, president of the Yk Minor Hockey Association, was one person who was rather enthused upon hearing the new numbers.

He said he hopes this will hopefully bring things back to something resembling proper hockey.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know all the details as of yet but it looks like weSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to get back to regular programming,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 two full teams on the ice, normal games between two teams and fans in the stands. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 good for everyone because weSA国际影视传媒檝e missed being able to be together and if ISA国际影视传媒檓 being honest, itSA国际影视传媒檚 been too long in coming.SA国际影视传媒�

Minor hockey was run under a skills-and-drills format for much of the season. There was a playoff tournament at the end of the season to determine divisional champions with 50 people allowed inside each rink at the Multiplex.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e had a lot of people sacrifice and a lot of people did a lot of work to get us through the worst part of this whole pandemic,SA国际影视传媒� said Anstey. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been responsible and now itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to look forward to something good.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to hopefully returning to league play, Anstey said the increase in numbers will go a long way toward working on long-term player development, something which went by the wayside this past season.

SA国际影视传媒淕ames are fun to play but ISA国际影视传媒檓 a believer that if you can skate, you can play,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to start planning on having camps and development sessions so we can work on making the kids better going through the system. We want the kids to love playing hockey and we want them to learn and get good at it.SA国际影视传媒�

Golf is another sport that will benefit from the increase and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a plus on more than one front.

Shaun Morris, president of the Yellowknife Golf Club, said the outdoor limit will be a boost for tournaments, especially ones for charity.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, we donSA国际影视传媒檛 really have any sort of celebrations after tournaments because we have limited capacity,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎t least we can start planning now for having dinners or barbecues or something for the players who want to stick around and enjoy the rest of the day.SA国际影视传媒�

The other big bonus? Shotgun starts can resume, he added, where players tee off from a pre-determined hole around the golf course instead of playing the holes in order from Number One.

The 19th Hole, the clubhouse on the club grounds, is open again for food and drink but right now, the capacity is 70 for the entire area with distancing in place. The normal capacity is 130 and that could be a possibility if things line up.

SA国际影视传媒淚f weSA国际影视传媒檙e allowed to do so, weSA国际影视传媒檒l go full bore and open it right up,SA国际影视传媒� said Morris.

Yellowknife Slopitch reacted to the news with guarded excitement on behalf of its president, Rebekah Clarke.

Clarke said the big thing for slopitch would be the opportunity for more families to come and watch.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have a very large membership, one of the largest in the NWT, and so having the ability to get more people out would make it easy to facilitate that,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of families like to come out and the increased capacity would allow them to do that.SA国际影视传媒�

What the outdoor gathering increase also does is bring back the possibility of a beverage garden for tournaments, something which has been put on the back burner since the start of the pandemic.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 nice to know that we could possibly have one,SA国际影视传媒� she said.