This page is for all visiting teams playing at a Vancouver Thunderbirds home arena.
Please note that the venue rules are not optional. It is expected that all rules will be followed and that venue staff will be treated with respect and listened to. If any visiting team is found to be violating the rules or is not cooperative with venue staff, they may not be permitted to return.
If you have any questions prior to arriving at the game, you can reach out to the relevant Team Manager for the home team as listed on this page or as is listed in HiSports.
Information on each venue TBirds host games out of can be found below.
Vancouver Park Board arenas all follow the same general rules, however each facility has unique layouts and therefore slightly altered pathways.
Primary rules
- Maximum venue capacity = 45 total including players, team staff, game officials and the timekeeper/scorekeeper(s). A standard rule of thumb is that each team should expect to have a maximum of 20 players and team staff permitted into the venue. One HCSP is required by each team but the role may be filled by a coach performing dual roles.
- Entering the venue:
- Any members of the user group that is permitted to use the dressing area assigned for the ice time will be permitted entrance 10 minutes prior to the ice time. This will typically only be permitted for goalies (from both teams) and game officials for games unless otherwise communicated by the Thunderbirds team manager in advance.
- For those that are NOT using the dressing area (ie typically all skaters)they will be permitted entrance 2-3 minutes prior to the ice time. They must be fully dressed (with skate guards) and must proceed with physical distancing being adhered to directly to the bench or directly onto the ice. Skate guards should be kept on their assigned players bench.
- Exiting the venue:
- All members of the group must depart within 5 minutes after the end of the ice time.
- Masks should be worn by any player that has removed their helmet as they exit.
- Masks are required inside the venue:
- upon entry for anyone using a dressing area and not going directly to the ice.
- for any player if physical distancing cannot be maintained outside of the field of play
- for all coaches/team staff including on the player benches
- Your team's contact tracing list for the ice time must be sent to the TBird team manager (or designated person they communicate with you in advance) within 24 hours of the ice session to be submitted along with the TBird team's list. Please ensure that on your list it is indicated that all names listed successfully passed a health check conducted by your team using your MHA's process. TBirds will NOT conduct a health check onsite for your team, but we require confirmation that you have. If you do not have a process for contact tracing, feel free to use this template to gather your information and send it to the TBirds.
- Miscellaneous:
- User groups are not permitted to use dressing rooms or showers
- Water bottles must be well labelled and brought in pre-filled
- Health check must be completed by all (via TeamSnap or verbal for TBirds or game officials, pre-arranged method with visiting teams)
- There are NO spectators at any time
Venue Plans (Entrances and Venue map)
The following maps show the entrances, exits and flows within the venue. Please note that the TBirds will attempt to be onsite ahead of your group to identify the entrance used for those venues that have separate entrances depending on dressing area locations inside the building, but venue staff can also assist if you ask them which entrance has been assigned to your specific ice time.
UBC operates both rinks under the same rules.
Primary rules
- Maximum venue capacity = 50 total
- Home team players: maximum 18
- Home team officials: maximum 5 (max 3 coaches, 1 HCSP, 1 Team manager)
- Visiting team players: maximum 18
- Visiting team officials (max 3 coaches, 1 HCSP, 1 Team manager)
- Scorekeeper/Timekeeper: maximum 1
- Game officials: maximum 3
- Numbers may NOT be moved between categories (eg if you have less players, you cannot add another team official)
- you cannot go above the max in any one category even if you do not use all of the numbers allowed in another
- Entering/exiting the venue:
- Enter at the North Entrance for all ice times. Arrive 25 minutes ahead of your ice time and UBC staff will escort the group in. Protrans exit is the door half way up the staircase nearest the proshop (out to the North Entrance side). Father Bauer exit is out the back hallway to the small Osborne parking lot located to the west side of the building. The group must exit together within 10 minutes of the end of the ice time.
- Masks are required:
- to be worn by all team staff/volunteers and players aged 6 and older entering the building and until they leave the dressing room to go to the ice
- This means that a parent/guardian will need to either ensure their child can remove the mask from under their helmet on their own or they will need to enter the building to assist them (one per player, no siblings)
- for all coaches/team staff including on the player benches
- PLEASE NOTE THAT UBC REQUIRES NON-MEDICAL MASKS THAT LOOP OVER THE EARS OR ARE TIED FOR ALL AREAS OTHER THAN THE FIELD OF PLAY. Neck gaiters are not permitted to be used for entering or exiting the building or in the dressing rooms.
- to be worn by all team staff/volunteers and players aged 6 and older entering the building and until they leave the dressing room to go to the ice
- Your team's contact tracing list for the ice time must be sent to the TBird team manager (or designated person they communicate with you in advance) within 24 hours of the ice session to be submitted along with the TBird team's list. Please ensure that on your list it is indicated that all names listed successfully passed a health check conducted by your team using your MHA's process. TBirds will NOT conduct a health check onsite for your team, but we require confirmation that you have. If you do not have a process for contact tracing, feel free to use this template to gather your information and send it to the TBirds.
- Miscellaneous:
- Dressing rooms ARE being used but no washrooms/showers are open in them. There is a maximum number permitted in the dressing room (12 in Father Bauer / 15 in Protrans) - teams will also need to use chairs located outside the rooms. They can request additional chairs if needed from the staff at the entrance.
- Public washrooms are located at the ice resurfacer end of Protrans - there are none in Father Bauer but the Protrans ones are just through the doors and down the stairs so they are not far.
- Water bottles must be well labelled and brought in pre-filled.
- Health check must be completed by all entering the building and UBC staff may conduct their own check with your group. Please ensure your group accommodates this as this venue is particularly sticky on protocols and they will refuse entry to anyone that does not cooperate.
- There are NO spectators at any time.
The Richmond Olympic Oval operates both rinks under the same rules.
Primary rules
- Maximum venue capacity = 50 total including players, team staff, game officials and the timekeeper/scorekeeper(s)
- Entering/exiting the venue:
- Enter at the sliding doors at the end of Row A in the underground parkade. Arrive 20-25 minutes prior to your ice time so your team staff are able to complete your team's check-in process. TBird team staff will escort the full group in 10 minutes prior to the ice time. Players will exit from the green double doors located between Rows C and D in the parkade. All players must exit within 5 minutes of the ice time and team staff must use provided cloths and spray bottles to wipe down the player bench, top of the boards and any chairs used by your group in the dressing area. All home and visiting team staff should expect to assist with the cleaning process to ensure the next group is able to enter the dressing area upon arrival ~8-9 minutes prior to their ice time.
- Masks are required:
- as of Nov 1 to be worn by all team staff/volunteers and players aged 5 and older entering the building and until they leave the dressing area to go to the ice
- for all coaches/team staff including on the player benches
- Your team's contact tracing list for the ice time must be sent to the TBird team manager (or designated person they communicate with you in advance) within 24 hours of the ice session to be submitted along with the TBird team's list. Please ensure that on your list it is indicated that all names listed successfully passed a health check conducted by your team using your MHA's process. TBirds will NOT conduct a health check onsite for your team, but we require confirmation that you have. If you do not have a process for contact tracing, feel free to use this template to gather your information and send it to the TBirds.
- Miscellaneous:
- Dressing rooms are not being used. They have open air dressing areas set up next to the rinks for players who are old enough to put on their skates should they wish to.
- Water bottles must be well labelled and brought in pre-filled.
- Health check must be completed by all.
- There are NO spectators at any time.