NHL teams and players have been notified of enhanced protocols until at least Jan. 7, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday.
NHL teams and players notified of enhanced protocols until at least Jan. 7
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 15, 2021
Friedman adds that measures include restrictions on indoor dining while on the road, masking and distancing while in club facilities and daily testing — except on days off.
He also confirmed that there is a presence of the Omicron variant, and that players are recommended to get a booster vaccine if eligible.
The decision for enhanced protocols was reached after two days of meetings and worsening conditions across the league on Wednesday as players and staff from three more teams were added to the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.
That included 17 members of the Calgary Flames, who also had a fourth game postponed (Saturday’s home matchup against Columbus). Coach Darryl Sutter and two assistants were on the list along with players including Rasmus Andersson, Johnny Gaudreau and others, raising the number of Calgary players in the protocol to 16.
The league said Calgary’s “return to game play is being delayed at least through Saturday” following discussions among medical experts. Calgary’s training facilities were closed to players until further notice.
Four teams — Calgary, Carolina, Ottawa and the New York Islanders — have had outbreaks force game postponements, a total of 10 in all. But alongside that is a growing number of affected players, who under typical COVID-19 guidance would be tested at least every 72 hours if vaccinnated.
More than 140 NHL players have been on the protocol list this season — including more than two dozen in the last two days — in a league that has proudly noted all but one of its approximately 700 players are considered fully vaccinnated. It is a discouraging trend for the league, which plans to allow its players to participate in the Winter Olympics in China in February unless COVID-19 disruptions prove to be too much.
In Boston, Patrice Bergeron became the third Bruins player in two days to enter the protocol, following leading scorer Brad Marchand and fellow forward Craig Smith. All three could be out until late December; coach Bruce Cassidy, who tested positive Nov. 30, just rejoined the team on Monday.
In Nashville, the Predators said coach John Hynes, two assistants and six players, including Mikael Granlund and Ryan Johansen, were now in COVID-19 protocol. The news came one day before the Predators were scheduled to host Colorado.
In the Ontario Hockey League, the Erie Otters suspended team activities Wednesday after 13 players tested positive for COVID-19. Two Erie games later this week were postponed.
— With files from the Associated Press
NHL teams, players notified of enhanced protocols until at least Jan. 7
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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