As the NHL and NHL Players’ Association continue putting the finishing touches on a plan to resume the season, the league says 26 players have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three weeks.
We won’t be able to gain a full picture about the rate of infection in the NHL population until training camps open next month. Fifteen of the positive tests announced Monday came from those participating in voluntary small-group workouts at NHL facilities — a group that includes 250-plus participants, or roughly a third of the total needed for the planned 24-team restart.
The other 11 positives came from players not yet subject to regular testing under the league’s return-to-play protocol.
Exhaustive testing procedures are expected to be part of the overall package being finalized by the NHL and NHLPA now. They are believed to be close to settling on a plan that includes the location of two hub cities for games, the protocols governing training camp and the competition phase, and the framework for an extension of the collective bargaining agreement — all of which would be subject to approval.
The hope has been to get something to the NHLPA membership for a vote by the end of this week.
It’s an enormous undertaking, especially with how fluid the situation is.
Consider that at this point last week there was progression towards choosing Vancouver and Las Vegas as the two hub cities — only to see Vancouver dropped as an option when discussions hit a snag with the B.C. government on how positive tests would be handled inside the bubble.
Meanwhile, with coronavirus caseloads spiking in various parts of the United States, talks between the NHL and NHLPA continued into Monday night on the location of hub cities. There were sources who believed that two Canadian hubs could still be an option for the league with Toronto and Edmonton remaining in the bidding. Chicago and Los Angeles are also among the finalists.
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.
The opening of training camps remains scheduled for July 10, but there’s some thought among teams that it might get pushed back to July 13. Players are expected to spend about two weeks in their home markets before travelling to hub cities, where games could start on or around Aug. 1.
The NHL’s goal has been to return in as safe a manner as possible and will require it to keep players in a tightly controlled bubble with a myriad of built-in safeguards once games start. That’s expected to include daily testing.
Frequent testing, physical distancing and the wearing of masks inside team facilities will likely be part of the protocols governing training camps — although players are expected to be allowed to stay at their own homes during Phase 3.
Given that more than 400 NHLers aren’t currently being tested at all, there’s bound to be more positive results if the league keeps moving towards a restart. The 250-plus participants in Phase 2 have taken more than 1,450 combined tests since June 8, and produced 15 positive results.
Preventing an outbreak among the playing population is vital to handing out the Stanley Cup this October.
“I’ve been involved in a lot of the [return-to-play] talks and I’m pretty confident that once we get into hub cities we’ll be able to do a good job of keeping it out,” veteran Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza said recently. “I think getting there is going to be the challenge and that’s where it takes a little bit of discipline on our part as players to make sure we don’t kind of derail the plans.”
The NHL says that all players who have tested positive have been in self-isolation and are following protocols set out by Health Canada and the Centers for Disease Control.
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.
