Hockey Canada lifts ban on sanctioned activities, lets members decide on return

Hockey Canada has lifted its ban on sanctioned activities and is allowing the country's 13 member organizations to individually determine when it's safe to return to action.

Hockey Canada said in a statement the best approach for a resumption plan was for each member to work with regional public health authorities to determine the appropriate steps to return in areas that fall under their jurisdiction.

The sport's national body said it expects the timing for a return to the ice will differ among its members. Certain regions of the country are further along with plans to reopen and roll back restrictions related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Hockey Canada's 13 members are: BC Hockey, Hockey Alberta, Saskatchewan Hockey Association, Hockey Manitoba, Hockey Northwestern Ontario, Ontario Hockey Federation, Hockey Eastern Ontario, Hockey Quebec, Hockey New Brunswick, Hockey PEI, Hockey Nova Scotia, Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador, and Hockey North.

Melody Davidson leaves Hockey Canada

Decorated women's hockey coach Melody Davidson has joined Own The Podium as a summer-sport adviser.

She coached the Canadian women's hockey team to Olympic gold in both 2006 and 2010.

Davidson switched to a managerial role overseeing Canada to another gold medal in 2014 and a silver in 2018.

She then remained with Hockey Canada as women's head scout while mentoring former player Gina Kingsbury to take over as director of national women's teams.

Davidson coached Canada in four world championships and won gold twice.

The 57-year-old from Oyen, Alta., also served as the International Ice Hockey Federation's lead coaching mentor to improve the international women's game following the 2010 Winter Olympics.

She's been involved in women's hockey for a quarter-century starting with the 1995 Canada Games, when she stood behind Alberta's bench.

Davidson was named to the Canadian Women and Sport's most influential women's list five straight years from 2007 to 2011.

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