Amid all of the excitement and optimism around the Ohio High School Athletic Association getting hockey back on the ice for pre-season scrimmages last week, there was a COVID casualty with the Centerville Elks declaring they would not ice a varsity team for the 2020-21 season.

“We are not going to be playing as a varsity program this season,” said Centerville head coach Tim Evans. “The plan is to be back next year.”

The decision was largely COVID-driven. Seven players opted to play travel hockey and concerned parents kept another three off the ice.

The situation was exasperated when the parents of three additional players tested positive for COVID-19, forcing those players off the ice as they go through a mandatory 14-day quarantine with the rest of their family.

While most coaches are itching to return to the ice this time of year, Evans was probably looking forward to the start of the season more than most. He coached the Elks to two Frozen Fours in 16 years in his previous stint (1990-2006) and was to return to his familiar perch behind the bench this year.

But, in short order, the Elks went from potentially having 19 players to nine skaters plus a goalie.

“It left us with less than a number that I thought was safe,” the veteran coach explained.

Despite the latest disappointment in a tough year for athletes, the long-term picture in Centerville is not so bad.  The Elks have seven 8th graders in the system – two of them goalies – and Evans hopes to lure six of the travel hockey players back to the program next year.

Centerville only has two seniors graduating in the spring, which will also help to keep the numbers up.