NHL teams, players notified of enhanced COVID-19 protocols

Omicron has hit the NHL, and the league is responding by bringing in enhanced COVID-19 protocols Wednesday sources tell Sportsnet.

New measures include restrictions on indoor dining while on the road, masking and distancing while in club facilities, and daily testing — except on days off. All players are being urged to get a booster shot if they haven’t already.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman says the spectre of a shutdown is looming over the league, although every effort will be made to prevent that from happening.

“What’s true now might not be true in 15 minutes. It just moves so quickly, you don’t know. But the one thing I do know is that a pause or a shutdown is the absolute last thing they want to do. They will exhaust everything before they get to that point,” he says.

NHL teams and players notified of enhanced protocols until at least Jan. 7

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 15, 2021

Under the old protocol, vaccinated players needed to be tested every 72 hours unless the team is dealing with an active outbreak. Friedman says he’s not surprised to see a return to daily testing for all players.

On a positive note, Friedman says he is hearing symptoms are mild.

“I am hearing that most of the cases appear to be not serious, which is all that we can really hope for,” he says.

“You hope that’s the case and that nobody gets too sick and people can make a quick recovery.”

A total of 10 NHL games have already been postponed, including five this week. The enhanced protocols come after a meeting between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association Tuesday night.

League-wide, more than 140 players have been placed on the COVID-19 protocol list.

RELATED: Flames announce more players, coaches, support staff entering COVID protocol

Three Canadian teams are currently grappling with positive cases.

In Calgary, an outbreak among Flames players and staff has now reached a total of 27 cases, prompting games to be cancelled through Saturday.

In Vancouver, the Canucks have confirmed four positive cases among players. In Edmonton, two players for the Oilers have tested positive. Games for these teams are set to proceed as planned.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Ottawa Senators will be limited to 50 per cent capacity at home games starting Saturday after Ontario unveiled new rules to combat COVID-19 on Wednesday.https://t.co/zoV0Ilx7am

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 15, 2021

 

Meantime, in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford announced that crowds at Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators games will once again be limited to 50 per cent capacity.

“Let’s be very clear, you’ve got to target the largest venues,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said at a press conference.

“Sports games, large concerts — people aren’t masking as much as (organizers) implore them to mask,” Ford added. “They all aren’t masking. You’re sitting side by side for hours. Compared to a restaurant, that’s comparing apples and bananas as far as I’m concerned, not even apples and oranges.”

Before the announcement, Canada’s deputy chief public health officer said rules allowing full capacity for indoor pro sports need to be examined.

“At the present time, let’s say sports arenas, hockey arenas still at full capacity, that’s something that I think needs to be looked out,” Dr. Howard Njoo said.

Provinces — not the federal government — are responsible for making capacity rules.

Canadian NHL teams had no fans in arenas last year in the regular season and played solely in Canada to avoid border restrictions. Limited crowds were allowed in some Canadian venues in the playoffs.