National Post (National Edition)
COVID-19 cases rise among NHL players
No names with 26 reported in self-isolation
While the NHL’s choice of two hub cities in Canada or the U.S. is on hold, the number of positive COVID-19 tests from players in its small-group practices is up.
As of Monday, more than 250 who reported voluntarily to club rinks in Phase Two of the Return To Play plan were tested in excess of 1,450 times. The 15 confirmations of the virus are in addition to 11 the league was made aware of outside Phase Two which began June 8. All affected players (no names were released) have been self-isolated according to the league.
That news comes 11 days before the league intends to start formal training camps for its 24-team playoff tournament in two hubs. Toronto and Edmonton remain the Canadian favourites, Las Vegas in the U.S. unless COVID-19 becomes such an issue in the south that the league opts for two Canadian sites.
Sensitive negotiations between the league and the players association on such matters as testing, accommodations and the inclusion of family are ongoing, likely complicated by parallel Collective Bargaining Agreement talks to settle the 2020-21 season. With many 2019-20 and 2020-21 contracts incomplete and revenue streams undetermined, there’s lots to settle before the next game is played.
“July 10 seems a little quick for what needs to be done,” Minnesota Wild goaltender and player rep Devan Dubnyk told local media. “But at the end of the day, a vote of any sort on anything can happen July 9 and if it’s voted on, then we can start July 10. So, in that regard, there is two weeks still to get something hammered out. It certainly feels like it’s going to happen.”
MINORITY NHLERS
SPEAK UP
The Hockey Diversity Alliance, a group of minority NHLers and players who’ve been at the forefront of stories about racism in the game, have released a YouTube video that includes their mission statement.
The co-heads, San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane and former player Akim Aliu, joined Wayne
Simmonds, Trevor Daley, Matt Dumba, Chris Stewart, Nazem Kadri, Anthony Duclair and the retired Joel Ward in a video moderated by Canadian film director, screenwriter and former pro, Charles Officer.
“When Akim’s story first broke, we were all taken aback by the news,” said Kane of Aliu’s revelations of mistreatment in junior hockey. “Obviously, with his story reinvigorated by the Players Tribune article (and) unfortunately having George Floyd’s death, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, it became apparent to us something had to be changed, not only in society, but in the hockey world. We as a group thought it was important our voices finally be heard and united as minority players.”
Aliu, who has challenged the league’s previous claim that the sport is all-inclusive, and Kane — added Kadri and Duclair to the group in recent weeks.
“Nine guys who’ve all kind of experienced the same things in a game that is predominantly white,” Aliu said. “It’s a tough space to speak out about. Our whole mindset is to make the path a little smoother (for young minority players) than it was for us.”
Simmonds said he was tired of the “denial I’ve been seeing from the outside world that this stuff actually happens (in hockey).
“We watched Floyd with a (policeman’s) knee on his neck, we’ve watched a numerous amount of other Black people be killed in the streets,” Simmonds added. “I’ve had several instances in the hockey world and outside when something racist has happened to me and every time I say something, people fail to believe. Now’s the time to accept this does happen and move this conversation along.”
CAN KHL CONQUER
COVID?
Though Russia remains a COVID-19 hot spot, the KHL is optimistically moving ahead with several August exhibition games. In Helsinki, Jokerit’s KHL team plans to allow 500 fans into games after Aug. 1 and if all goes well, club president Jari Kurri says that restriction will be lifted after Oct. 1.
“Nobody has any direct answers to anything at the moment, and nothing can be nailed down,” Kurri told a local newspaper. “But at the moment we are expecting to start (the regular season) on Sept. 2.”
ICE CHIPS
The Hockey Hall of Fame’s media wing welcomed two new members on Monday. Tony Gallagher, the longtime columnist for the Vancouver Province, who broke many stories on the West Coast through three decades, was named winner of the 2020 Elmer Ferguson Award. The Foster Hewitt Award for broadcasting goes to Rick Peckham, with 42 years in the business, the last 24 as TV voice of the Tampa Bay Lightning... Defenceman Roman Polak is not expected back in The Dallas Stars lineup for the playoffs. He wasn’t playing full time when the season was halted, he recently signed a three-year contract with Vitkovice in the Czech League starting in 2020-21 and has concerns about returning to North America in the midst of the pandemic ... Nassau County executive Laura Curran says not to give up hope that the Islanders will play at the Coliseum in 2020-21, despite the rink’s private owners declaring it closed because of debt. The team will be in its new Belmont Park digs in 2021-22 ... Las Vegas is the latest team to bring its AHL farm club close to home. They’ve moved the San Antonio Rampage from Texas to a few minutes’ drive from the Strip, rebranding them the Henderson Silver Knights. They’ll play at Orleans Arena in Paradise, Nev., part of a casino.