NHL players begin to trickle back
TORONTO — The Edmonton Oilers were back at Rogers Place on Monday — some of them, anyway.
The club opened its arena for voluntary, small-group training as the NHL moved to Phase 2 of its return-to-play protocol with an eye towards eventually resuming its pandemic-hit season.
The Oilers tweeted a picture and video that included forwards Alex Chiasson and Tyler Benson, defencemen Kris Russell and Matt Benning, and minor-league goalie Stuart Skinner taking part in on-ice drills where all five were observing physical distancing rules.
Players across the league have the option to work out at their home facilities — depending on availability — beginning this week under strict health and safety guidelines, though they may also continue to train where they’re currently located.
“It’s definitely a different circumstance,” Benning said on a video conference call with reporters after the informal skate. “There’s people there to help us through and make sure we’re doing the right things to stay safe and wear masks and [have] proper hygiene.
“It was exciting to get back to the rink, but it was a different feeling. A lot of things we had to do in order to be safe and enjoy the facility.”
A number of NHLers returned to their summer residences during the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic and are still scattered across North America and Europe. Depending on the jurisdiction, some have been on the ice for weeks.
The league — which recently unveiled its 24-team, return-to-play plan to resume the 2019-20 season this summer — was forced to pause its schedule March 12.
The Calgary Flames were also allowed to open their facility Monday, but a spokesman said that will happen sometime later this week. Alberta’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, said she gave the Oilers and Flames permission to resume training with public-health measures in place as of Monday morning.
The Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets aren’t expected to open their rinks any time soon because most of their players aren’t in those cities at the moment. The Canadiens said last week that with only two players in the Montreal area, their practice facility will remain closed for maintenance, but could reopen with 72 hours notice.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs said some of their players in Toronto were being tested for COVID-19 with an eye toward having them go through physicals this week. The Ottawa Senators were among the seven NHL teams to have their seasons officially come to an end with the announcement of the 24-club format.
While some NHL players been able to skate during the pandemic, most have had to make do with either home gyms or get creative to stay in shape.
“It’s one thing to train and it’s another thing to get on the ice,” said Benning. “Some people can get out there and pick up where they left off, but if I’m off the ice for two days it feels like I’ve never skated in my life.
“Three months was a little nerve-wracking, but I felt a lot better than what I expected.”