Karlsson says his wife, two-year-old daughter also contracted COVID

Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson, who had been in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol since Oct. 30, said Friday that his wife, Melinda, and their 2-year-old daughter also tested positive for the coronavirus.

Karlsson said his daughter is doing well and that his wife is still experiencing symptoms, but is feeling OK.

“It’s been tough. It’s definitely not been a pleasant experience,” Karlsson said. “But we’re going to get through it. We’re not the only ones who, unfortunately, have to deal with this.”

Karlsson and six other Sharks players who had been in the league’s COVID protocol for over a week joined their teammates for their first practice with a full roster in over two weeks on Friday at Denver University.

The seven players — Karlsson, Radim Simek, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Jake Middleton, Timo Meier, Kevin Labanc and Matt

Nieto — are all expected to be available to play Saturday when the Sharks face the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.

The Sharks said early last month that they were fully vaccinated.

Karlsson and Middleton were the first two players to feel symptoms on Oct. 29 before the start of a scheduled practice at Sharks Ice in San Jose. They were tested and sent home, Middleton said, and found out the next day that they and five other players and coach Bob Boughner had also tested positive and had to enter the protocol.

Boughner and the players would have been eligible to return to the team sooner for the Sharks’ games in Calgary and Winnipeg earlier this week, but the Canadian government prohibits individuals who have tested positive within the last two weeks from entering the country.

The Sharks had a record of 3-2-1 in games since their COVID issues began and entered Friday in sixth place in the Pacific Division.