The NHL has postponed a total of 10 additional games, one being for COVID-19-related issues and nine others due to Canadian attendance restrictions, the league announced Tuesday.
Wednesday’s contest between the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings was the game delayed due to COVID-19.
The Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs all saw at least one of their games affected by the rescheduling decision.
The postponements impacting games played in Canadian cities comes amid a series of measures put in place by local governments, aimed at stemming the dramatic surge of COVID-19 cases seen across the country, which placed limits on how many fans could be in attendance in the arena.
In delaying the games, the league could generate more revenue at a later date when bigger audiences become a possibility, though given the unpredictability of the pandemic, it remains to be seen whether or not that will come to fruition before season’s end.
Ontario was the first provincial government to announce a capacity limit for NHL or NBA teams this season, capping the attendance for indoor venues like Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Canadian Tire Centre, home of the Ottawa Senators, at 50 per cent.
“This measure is being taken to reduce opportunities for close contact in high-risk indoor settings with large crowds and when masks are not always worn,” the Ontario government said in a media release when announcing the rules.
That mid-December decision was followed shortly by a request from Quebec’s health officials which saw the Canadiens suspend the hosting of fans in the Bell Centre, marking the strongest measure so far of its kind taken by a province that has an NHL team.
Shortly after the game Montreal played in an empty arena, evoking memories of the pandemic’s earlier days, the province announced a 50 per cent capacity limit for indoor venues with 1,000 or more people going forward, but increasing case counts led to a ruling that no spectators would be allowed to attend sports events as of Dec. 20.
British Columbia took the same 50 per-cent limit approach, saying the rule would remain in effect until at least Jan. 31.
The Canadiens adopted an optimistic tone at the time of Quebec’s 50 per-cent ruling about the future of hosting fans in Montreal, noting the franchise had “obtained assurances” that, beginning with games in January, the organization will return to “a partial capacity scenario and be able to host fans once more.”
With four home games, spanning Jan. 4 to Jan. 10, affected by Tuesday’s postponements, it remains to be seen how soon fans will be making their Bell Centre return.
In Manitoba, the Winnipeg Jets initially attempted to carry on with hosting fans at 100 per cent capacity, despite the prevalence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, noting a high degree of safety-measure compliance by fans who attended games. Days later, the Manitoba government implemented similar limits to large gatherings as Quebec, causing the Jets to announce that no fans would be attending games until at least Jan. 11.
Alberta, the last province which hosts NHL teams to adopt capacity limits, implemented the same 50 per cent restriction on venues which host 1,000 people or more as Ontario, B.C. and Quebec did on Dec. 21.
The divergent timelines for when policies came into effect stems from provinces, not the federal government, being responsible for making capacity rules, underscoring the logistical challenges of coming up with a unified approach in how to best handle playing NHL games in Canada amid the pandemic.
Capacity in Canadian arenas slowly went up in provinces across the country over the summer and fall, but rising case counts and the emergence of the Omicron variant put the discourse over how to host fans safely back in the spotlight.
The NHL now has had a total of 80 games postponed this season.
The list of games postponed for attendance reasons
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.
