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There won’t be fans but for the first time since March 2020, the Canucks will hit the ice at Rogers Arena for NHL game action in January.
After discussions between the league, the players’ association and public health officials from the five provinces that are home to NHL teams, an agreement was reached Thursday to move forward with games being played in the seven home arenas across the country beginning Jan. 13.
Wednesday, the top medics from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec sent a letter to the NHL detailing two options for the league to move forward with their approval of games being played in home arenas but without fans because of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions: either increased testing for the players’ contacts and some suggested modifications to the regular season schedule, or a delay to the start of the season.
It appears the NHL agreed to do more testing, leading multiple sources to confirm Thursday to Postmedia that there is “alignment” between the league and the provinces.
