COVID clobbers Bethel after 4-1 Bennie victory

CSB hockey won due to a forfeit by Bethel on Nov. 12. MIAC COVID protocol requires that all unvaccinated athletes be tested weekly, and if they test positive they must quarantine for 10 days. Head trainer Erin Ross is considered the COVID specialist for CSB athletics. Last year she oversaw all testing and coordinating quarantine and isolations for athletes. Ross also helps coach the hockey team.

“If you spend one minute on the court of ice with someone who is positive and you are not vaccinated then you are subject to regular quarantine,” Ross said.

The team is now 2-0 in MIAC play because Bethel’s team had positive tests among that were revealed Friday afternoon before the Bennies and the Royals met again on Friday night. They started their series the night before at the MAC. The Bennies will not be affected because their team is 100% vaccinated.

“Where Bethel got into the pickle was that they have so many unvaccinated players on their team, so they did not have enough to actually suit up to play,” Ross said.

It was already public knowledge that Bethel was planning on having a small bench that night, but as more cases continued to surface, Bethel no longer had enough players to even play a game.

MIAC protocol dictates that any team which cannot participate due to COVID automatically forfeits. While CSB follows standard MIAC protocol the only added restriction here is required masking in the training room.

“We are trying to get folks to understand that we are not in the clear with this. The number of positive COVID cases is on the rise significantly, so no one is immune to any of this.” Ross said.