Hockey coach calls winter driving risky but necessary
A St. John's hockey coach says travelling in poor weather conditions is all part of the game, but he won't be taking any unnecessary risks.
Eddie Oates coaches the St. John's Maple Leafs, a major midget hockey league in the city.
The team was scheduled to play in Lewisporte on Friday night but had to reschedule when their charter bus company delayed the trip due to weather and safety concerns.
Oates said Thursday night's bus crash near Grand Falls-Windsor is on everyone's minds.
A DRL bus carrying 55 passengers went off the road while en route to a figure skating competition.
Three people were admitted to the emergency room at the hospital in Grand Falls-Windsor while two were air lifted to St. John's. Poor weather conditions were a factor in the accident.
"When you're travelling with teams, you never know what can happen," said Oates, who travels across Newfoundland seven to eight times a year with his team.
As a hockey team, if you can't travel in the winter you ain't going to be able to participate in a league ...- Eddie Oates, hockey coach
Oates said the group prefers to travel by charter bus because it keeps the team together — delays and all.
Following Thursday's accident, the head of Skate Canada Newfoundland and Labrador said it plans to review its policy on travelling at night.
But according to Oates, there's no way around it — his team has to go on the road.
"As a hockey team, if you can't travel in the winter you ain't going to be able to participate in a league, especially if it's a provincial league like we play in," said Oates.
"You have to look at the factors," he said.
You have to take "the weather, the winds [into] consideration," Oates said. "And if you leave and you run into tough weather, rather than try to get through it, get to the closest location where you can get somewhere to stay for the night, bunker down and then head on when the weather breaks."
The competitions continues
Athletes like Brianna Hardy of Mount Pearl were determined not to be distracted by Thursday's bus accident.
"We've been getting up at 6:30 every morning to be at the rink by seven," said Hardy.
According to one parent, many young skaters were shaken up after hearing what happened to the competing team's bus.
"I hope everyone takes a moment to reflect on being safe ... Our thoughts are definitely with the Corner Brook team," she said.