As more and more areas of Saskatchewan's economy and recreation have been allowed to reopen, fans of various sports have begun asking when their preferred pastimes will be back on the docket in the province. As other provinces have allowed some sports to return, those questions have only gotten louder. 

At a press conference yesterday providing an update on COVID-19, the province did not seem to have any firm answers for when sports like hockey will be able to resume games in what is normally the time of year to start their season. At the very least, they did acknowledge it's something they've been thinking about. 

"In my discussions, I would say (lifting gathering restrictions) is not actively being considered," said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. "In saying that, there are all sorts of discussions that are happening throughout public health... Many of those discussions are precipitated by requests, for example, whether it be from athletic associations or worship services earlier in our response."

The Premier added that as those requests come in, Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab and other public health officials work to address them. And the requests certainly have been coming in. An online petition to allow hockey games to resume has netted over 5000 signatures so far. 

"Sports and physical activities are so important for everyone, including youth," said Dr. Shahab. "Over the summer, leagues have been playing locally and doing so very safely. That 50-player limit over the fall, September, October, November, outdoor-based sports like football are playing in a slightly modified way."

As of now, outdoor sports are allowed up to 150 spectators as long as social distancing is possible. Dr. Shahab said this was working well, so the same principles could be used by hockey or basketball to start up. The problem then becomes that, for many teams, operations with only 150 spectators aren't possible. 

"Can we see a place where you could have larger numbers of spectators?" Dr. Shahab said. "I think that would be an active area of consideration. Given our community transmission rates and how you can cohort spectators safely, not just when they're sitting but as they enter a building and leave, washrooms and food stalls... it's been working very safely so I think we need to learn from and build upon what has worked well."

Yesterday, Hockey Alberta announced they would be permitting travel this season and could begin exhibition play as soon as October. Hockey Manitoba has already allowed MJHL teams to play exhibition contests with limited spectators.