The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League says COVID-19 cases on four teams have led to the postponement of six games.

The Beaver Valley Nitehawks, Castlegar Rebels, Fernie Ghostriders and Kelowna Chiefs each have positive cases, according to a league announcement Thursday.

The Kelowna Chiefs told Black Press Media that nine of its players have tested positive, and more are expected throughout the week. Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 game Friday at home to the North Okanagan Knights has been postponed.

Castlegar Rebels president Mike Johnstone said eight-to-10 players are exhibiting symptoms. He added not all of them have been tested for COVID-19 as current Interior Heath guidelines don害羞草研究所檛 allow for testing of double-vaccinated individuals without other risk factors.

害羞草研究所淚t spread quite quickly around our room and we wanted to cut it off and limit exposure to our players, staff, volunteers and opponents, so the decision was made to cancel the games,害羞草研究所� said Johnstone.

Nitehawks president Stephen Piccolo said six players had tested positive and are currently in isolation.

害羞草研究所淥micron is hitting everyone hard it looks like,害羞草研究所� said Piccolo. 害羞草研究所淎nd I mean everybody 害羞草研究所� our fan base, the games that we can害羞草研究所檛 have, and we害羞草研究所檙e hoping it doesn害羞草研究所檛 carry into another season.害羞草研究所�

Other games to be rescheduled include:

害羞草研究所� Friday, Jan. 7: Beaver Valley Nitehawks at Castlegar Rebels; Grand Forks Border Bruins at Fernie Ghostriders

害羞草研究所� Saturday, Jan. 8: Castlegar Rebels at Nelson Leafs; Fernie Ghostriders at Columbia Valley Rockies

害羞草研究所� Sunday, Jan. 9: Golden Rockets at Beaver Valley Nitehawks

The infections come despite the KIJHL害羞草研究所檚 COVID-19 policy, which required every player and staff member to have received two doses of vaccine prior to the start of the season in October.

The Nitehawks were and had their head coach suspended for eight games when it was revealed two of their players had begun the season not fully vaccinated.

With files from Jen Zielinski in Kelowna, Betsy Kline in Castlegar and Jim Bailey in Trail.