You know, the one who jumps on the Zoom call hours after the NHL announced a series of agreements that could see the Stanley Cup handed out during a pandemic to ask what it might take to derail that exciting possibility.
But it’s a pressing concern. Major League Soccer had to go ahead with its summer tournament down two teams — FC Dallas and Nashville SC — because of a rash of positive COVID-19 tests. The NHL is dealing with its own set of growing positives, as teams prepare to open training camp on Monday, and it will likely walk a tightrope until they each travel to bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto on July 26.
The league conducted a two-hour information call with general managers on Saturday but was vague when it came to the question of a doomsday scenario. The message was that the 24-team tournament would only be shut down if doctors felt the virus had spiralled out of control among the NHL population, rather than being tied to “X” number of positive tests.
Afterward, when your trusted representative put the question to commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly — inadvertently having the camera turned on during the Zoom call while in a more casual setting than the league and NHLPA bosses — details were no more forthcoming.
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“The fact is we’re going to be taking advice from the experts, the medical people, in terms of what is and isn’t appropriate as we move forward and understanding that COVID-19’s out there and what the risks are,” Bettman said.
“Nothing more than that,” Daly added. “Obviously, we’re all living day-to-day here and we’ll see what happens.”
At the risk of looking too far ahead, the coming days will be a challenge. The NHL has instituted a mandate that prevents teams from disclosing any injury information about players in an effort to shield those dealing with the coronavirus from added scrutiny.
Who knew we’d ever pine for the days of the announced upper-body or lower-body injury?
It’s arguably the only reasonable way to protect privacy, but it certainly won’t quiet speculation when a player is nowhere to be found on the ice during training camp.
Where this gets complicated is the many reasons why it matters.
For starters, an outbreak could force the cancellation of the playoffs. Or maybe it sees a team removed from the competition, although no clear indication was provided from the NHL brass when asked if they’d consider following the lead of MLS.
While it’s understandable why players feel they value and deserve discretion — “It was high priority for guys, no question,” said Mathieu Schneider, the NHLPA’s special assistant to executive director Donald Fehr — there’s a certain public trust involved with this entire endeavour, too.
The NHL announced 35 positive tests from June 8 to July 6 and will update that number again soon. But it doesn’t intend to identify specific teams that might be dealing with a spread.
“The media and the public will know what kind of situation we’re in, but we don’t want to be in a situation where we’re doing it on a club-by-club basis or a player-by-player basis because I think the interests of medical privacy are important and we’re going to protect them,” Daly said.
Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what they think about it.
Schneider likened this undertaking to going to Mars for the first time. There is much to learn and adjustments will be required once teams move into the secure zones in hub cities.
Not only is there concern about keeping the virus from infiltrating shared spaces, but there is worry about the possibility of false positive tests — which could knock a player with no symptoms out of Game 7 in a playoff series.
On some level, these are realities that simply need to be accepted to resume sports at this moment in time.
The NHL has done a first-class job in leading the way during unimaginably tough times. It has secured a six-year agreement on a collective bargaining agreement and got to a point where five games are scheduled to be played on Aug. 1.
And yet, despite all that, nothing is guaranteed. Bettman channelled Winston Churchill by saying that they have merely reached the “end of the beginning.”
The virus poses an ever-present danger to their best-laid plans.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
