With the next hockey season fast approaching and the Cobourg Cougars entering into their 57th year of consecutive operations, we are excited and look forward to safely welcoming back our incredible friends, families, and fans to the Cobourg Community Centre (CCC) as we work day in and day out to prepare for the return of “new normal” operations. 

The Province of Ontario announced that it will implement a mandatory double vaccination policy for certain indoor public events effective September 22nd, which would include the CCC.  The Cougars’ organization hereby confirms its full support of the Government’s policy and will work closely with the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) to ensure that all attendees at Cougars’ games will be required to provide proof of vaccination as a condition precedent to entry effective September 22nd. Children who are 11 years of age and younger will be exempted from these requirements.

In an effort to mitigate against the risk of misunderstanding these new rules, mere proof of a negative COVID-19 test will not be accepted for admittance to the CCC for Cougars’ games, except for guests with a verified medical exemption and subject to OJHL rules and regulations in that regard.  Consistent with the OJHL’s recent adoption of a double vaccination policy for the upcoming hockey season, the Cougars will require all staff and event personnel to provide documentation of full vaccination as the organization works with the Town of Cobourg, the provincial government, local public health officials and the OJHL itself to provide the safest operation possible for its players, staff, billet families, sponsors, fans and for the community at large. 

“The entire Cougars’ organization is laser-focused on doing all it can to help mitigate against the transmission of COVID-19 and fully supports the mandatory vaccination policy being implemented by the Province of Ontario, particularly as we all work diligently and co-operatively together to create the best path forward for protecting our community,” said longstanding Cougars’ Governor Marc Mercier. “We have a proven track record of providing attendees at the CCC for Cougars’ games with great viewing experiences and have made it a top priority to provide a safe environment and protect our community from the transmission of COVID-19 by ensuring all CCC attendees and staff at Cougars’ games are fully vaccinated. We strongly believe that this mandatory vaccine policy, along with the other enhanced measures we are adding pursuant to OJHL direction, should allow us to safely resume hosting Cougars’ games at high levels of capacity in time for the start of the upcoming season”, Mercier stated. 

Please check in with the Cougars at www.cobourgcougars.com as we continue to work with all relevant authorities toward a safe return to the playing of exciting junior hockey at the CCC.  We intend to provide updates on a variety of things relating to “your team” and everything else you will need to know about how we plan to safely welcome you back to the CCC.