The Anchorage hockey community has, until recently, been relatively unaffected by COVID-19. Several players participating at local arenas have recently tested positive for COVID-19 after participating in local tournaments. The virus has entered our circle, so to speak. 

O’Malley Ice & Sports Center put a COVID Mitigation Plan in place when we reopened in May, and that plan has been updated regularly in response to new information about the virus and new developments within the community. A copy of our most recently revised COVID Mitigation Plan can be found below.

While we do have ongoing mitigation procedures in place to help combat the spread of virus we need the help and cooperation of our patrons if we are to effectively slow the spread of the virus and remain open in the coming weeks and months.

We ask all those who enter our facilities to:

• Wear masks or face coverings;
• Sign the guest book in the lobby when entering the building;
• Maintain social distance (6 feet in common areas, 10 feet on the ice and courts);
• Maintain social distance in locker rooms or dress at home and change into skates in the lobby;
• Not participate in post-game handshakes as per USA Hockey mandates;
• Comply with dressing room schedule and vacate within 20 minutes of game time to allow our staff time to clean for the next users;
• Obey posted boundaries (closed areas and employee-only areas);
• Stay home if you or anyone you’ve had close contact with is symptomatic or has had a positive COVID-19 test.

Starting October 8, 2020, dressing rooms will be closed to youth participants age 18 and under. Youth participants will dress at home and change into skates in the seats provided in the lobby.

Some other areas of the facility are closed to users until further notice. Most notable among these is the running track. Other closed areas will be marked as off limits.

We ask for your patience and cooperation to help us stay open. We also appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate these unusual times.

A copy of our COVID Mitigation Plan is posted on the bulletin board in the entry to both buildings and is included below. If you have any questions about current policy feel free to as any of our staff.

O’Malley Ice Center has partnered with LiveBarn to give our clientèle the ability to watch their friends and family play even when they can’t make it to the rink. We’re the first ice venue in Alaska to provide this service.

LiveBarn is an online streaming service that specializes in athletic venues. Their service allows people to view live and on-demand events from O’Malley Ice Center and other affiliate facilities from anywhere in the world.

LiveBarn subscribers can view live and on-demand games from any LiveBarn affiliate facility. Games can be streamed live or watched on-demand for up to 30 days. Users can also download and save complete games and practices, and create highlight clips to share online. Players and coaches can use LiveBarn to review game and practice footage to improve their game or see what their competition looks like. Figure skaters can watch their practice sessions and see why that landing didn’t stick.

Use the promo code 5487-1096 at checkout and receive 10% off your LiveBarn subscription. Current subscribers may also use the promo code for a 10% discount. Go to LiveBarn.com or click the image below to subscribe. Enter the promo code at checkout for your discount.

For more information on LiveBarn, visit livebarn.com. Download the LiveBarn iOS App for easiest mobile viewing on Apple devices (Android App coming soon).

Follow LiveBarn on Twitter (@LiveBarn), Facebook (@LiveBarnSports), Instagram (@LiveBarnSports) and YouTube (@LiveBarn).

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a number of changes to how we live, how we work, and how we enjoy our recreation time. O’Malley Ice and Sports Center is no exception.

As our patrons know, we have implemented a number of policies and procedures to help protect our players, spectators, and employees. This has included restrictions on locker room usage and the number of people allowed in the building and on the ice. In response to changing Municipal policies we are making some changes to our current COVID Mitigation practices that will allow more people to participate while still providing as safe an environment as possible.

Starting September 8th, we will open dressing room usage to most youth participants. Groups of youth participants will be allowed to use assigned locker rooms with SafeSport compliant adult supervision ensuring social distancing and proper conduct in the dressing rooms. Youth players and their parents or guardians can still opt to dress at home and change into skates in the lobby using the provided chairs and benches.

Spectators will also be permitted in the facility again, albeit at 50% of building capacity. Spectators are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering while in the building, and to maintain six foot social distancing. Spectator seating will be marked off to help maintain social distance.

We’d like to thank our patrons for their patience, flexibility, and understanding as we adjust to changes during this pandemic.

A copy of our latest COVID Mitigation Plan is available below, and is posted on the bulletin boards at the entrance to the Ice Center and the Sports Center.

O’Malley Ice and Sports Center has implemented a number of new and enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures to help protect our patrons and staff from Covid-19. We are committed to providing a state of the art, safe, and fun recreation environment. That commitment includes employing the latest technology in the ongoing battle against communicable illnesses.

We have purchased and will soon be using a WL-IND-SM-24-4L-UVC-AT-25C 30 watt industrial ultraviolet light tower to disinfect locker rooms and other enclosed spaces in our facilities. We anticipate the ultraviolet light tower will be in use by early July.

Ultraviolet light has been used in many industries, including health-care, for decades as a means of killing viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, and to sanitize indoor environments and many products.

The light tower we have purchased generates ultraviolet light within the wave length of 200-280nm that is required to kill pathogens. It can sanitize an area of about 500 square feet in a short time. This unit will be used in the locker rooms and other enclosed areas for about sixty minutes at a time to sanitize the surfaces of each room.

Ultraviolet light can damage the eyes or the skin after prolonged contact. Because of this risk the light will only be placed in an empty locker room or other space by trained personnel with protective gear. If, by chance, one of these lights was inadvertently left on in a locker room or other space please do not look directly at the light; leave the space and report your findings to the nearest rink personnel. Please do not re-enter the space until instructed to do so by rink personnel.

The light tower’s specifications can be viewed online at https://www.warehouse-lighting.com.

Further information on the use of ultraviolet lights for sanitation, and its efficacy on coronavirus, can be found at https://www.webmd.com.

An informative video on ultraviolet disinfectant lights can also be viewed at https://www.youtube.com.