Report: NHL players to remain off the ice for at least 7 days
NHL players will not be on the ice this week during the league’s pause for the coronavirus pandemic.
The league informed teams it will be at least a full seven days before they will be permitted to open facilities to players for group skates or workouts, according to a report Sunday by Sportsnet in Canada.
NHL teams have been told that it will be at least one full week -- and perhaps longer -- before they can reopen facilities for players to do small-group skates/workouts.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 15, 2020
It figures to be much longer until games resume, as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that events with more than 50 people are canceled throughout the U.S. for the next eight weeks.
The Golden Knights said City National Arena will continue to operate as scheduled and that communications with Clark County and the State of Nevada as well as local health officials are ongoing.
Knights owner Bill Foley said the entire building is undergoing extensive cleaning.
Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed to NHL.com on Friday that to his knowledge no player or employee had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Canadian government ordered a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine to travelers after returning from foreign countries, and the NHL wants players to begin as soon as possible in order to assess when the season can resume.
A memo was sent Saturday requiring members of Canadian teams that traveled to the U.S. to return immediately so “they can serve their government-mandated quarantine expeditiously,” according to Sportsnet.
The league also required teams to pay players in the American Hockey League, per multiple reports.
Elsewhere, the Knights have yet to announce a plan to provide financial assistance to part-time employees for the team and at T-Mobile Arena. Foley previously said he would “take care of everyone” and “make financial sacrifices” if necessary.
Fleury, Pacioretty donate jerseys
Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and forward Max Pacioretty are two of the notable NHL players making donations to a nonprofit organization to help the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Fleury and Pacioretty joined athletes from every sport by donating signed jerseys to athletesrelief.org for a fund to benefit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
Former Knights player David Perron, now with the St. Louis Blues, also was listed as one of the NHL players expected to donate a signed jersey.
A donation of at least $25 is required to be entered for a chance to win the memorabilia.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.
