Changes to 2022 NZIHL Season Schedule

NZIHL March 14, 2022  372

The New Zealand Ice Hockey League is today announcing changes to its schedule for the 2022 season, in
response to the challenges associated with the growing presence of Omicron in the community.

The 2022 NZIHL season was due to begin on Saturday, 30 April. The new schedule will see the season
begin on Saturday, 11 June.

In consultation with the NZIHL teams, the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation convened a sub-committee
to review the impact of the growing presence of Omicron throughout New Zealand and the Government’s
100 person spectator limit for events would have on the league.

The sub-committee determined that the financial repercussions of games played during the ‘100 person
spectator limit’ would be significant. Additionally, the risk to athletes playing when daily COVID-19 cases
are forecasted to be still high would pose substantial logistical challenges.

The modified schedule will now begin with several rounds of local island travel games only – North Island
teams playing against North Island teams and South Island teams playing against South Island teams only.
These changes will significantly reduce the cost to the league and negate the risk of inter-island travel. The
season will return to our standard format from 23 July, with teams resuming nationwide travel at this point.

We hope that by delaying the season start, New Zealand will be at a point in its COVID-19 response where
games will be able to take place without spectator limits. However, if the limits remain in place, we are still
committed to pursuing a complete 2022 NZIHL season. Any games held under a Government mandated
spectator limit will go ahead, with the NZIHF providing financial support to each team to ensure they are
viable. Additionally, all games will be livestreamed, allowing fans access to their favourite teams.

Unfortunately, these changes have impacted the NZIHL Development team, Auckland Mako. In 2022, the
Auckland Mako will only play games in Auckland, due to the condensed season schedule. With that said,
mentor and development players from the South Island will travel to Auckland to compete with the team.

Despite these changes, 2022 will still see a full NZIHL competition played, with all games in the regular
season being points eligible, and a semi-final and finals series played at the end of the season.

“We want to thank our athletes, personnel, and the NZIHL fans for their ongoing support, and it is because
of our shared passion for the sport that we can persevere through these trying times and use every tool we
have at our disposal to bring the game to ice rinks around New Zealand.”
– Andy Mills – NZIHF President.

The new schedule is now available online: https://www.nzihl.com/schedule/