Fans allowed

The good news far outweighs the bad.

Let's start with the bad.

The Kelowna Rockets pre-season games Wednesday night against the Vancouver Giants in Ladner has been cancelled. Thankfully, COVID-19 has nothing to do with it. The G-Men have in the neighbourhood of seven players attending NHL training camps this week and have several injuries and can't successfully ice a team. I know what you are thinking. That's a first! With that game being taken off the schedule, the Rockets will only have four tune up games to work with before the puck drops for real - against Vancouver - October 1st. The Rockets host the Royals this Friday and Saturday before tangling with the Kamloops Blazers next weekend in a home and home series. 

Now the good news.

It appears health restrictions have been eased in Interior Health for gatherings for people indoors. Capped at no more than 50, the changes allow large events indoors to have 50 people or 50 percent of capacity, whichever is greater. What that means for the Kelowna Rockets is fans will be allowed at Prospera Place for the first time since March 11, 2020 when the team plays a pre-season games this weekend against the Victoria Royals. Oddly, it was the Royals that visited the last time patrons were allowed to watch a game in a facility that holds 6,001 spectators. With 50 percent capacity allowed, three thousand people will be in the building, wearing masks, if they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The only time masks won't be worn inside, is if you are eating or drinking. 

Interior Health sent out a press release late in the day with this comment:

“Thank you to everyone across the Interior who continues to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” IH President and CEO, Susan Brown said, in a statement. “However, we can’t let our guard down now. Getting vaccinated and being able to show proof of vaccination is how we can now resume some events and activities safely and with more people."