Manitoba gives Jets runway clearance
The NHL’s all-Canadian division cleared its final hurdle Friday.
Developments south of the border related to COVID-19, however, were far less encouraging.
Manitoba announced it will allow the Winnipeg Jets to play home games during the pandemic, joining Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia in giving the league’s plan to resume action north of the border this season a thumbs up.
Friday’s move came after Manitoba made a minor modification to current public health orders, allowing professional hockey to go ahead in the Manitoba capital with the NHL schedule set to begin Wednesday.
“We feel super fortunate that the government has allowed us to play,” Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said. “To say it’s been a tough year is the understatement of my lifetime ... in terms of what we’ve all been dealing with. Collectively, we’re all in this together and it’s been a challenge for everyone.”
Approval from Manitoba came the same day the Dallas Stars closed their facility after six players and two staff members tested positive for COVID19. The NHL said the Stars won’t open their season until Jan. 19.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, meanwhile, said Friday a number of players didn’t practise “out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with NHL COVID-19 protocols.
Due to border restrictions related to non-essential travel and a 14-day quarantine rule, Canada’s seven franchises will only play against each other in a North Division. The same goes for the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, said he understands small business owners or people unable to visit family might be upset NHL games are going ahead, but added the league’s situation and ability to pull a season off safely isn’t on the same level.
“Nonetheless, it’s a frustrating time. We’ve said it time and time again,” he said. “The NHL put a proposal forward that really had such robust protocols, that really had such minimal risk to Canadians that we felt the benefit of seeing some sort of normalcy during this stage was outweighing the quite minimal risk to the population.”
There will be no fans present for games in Canadian NHL arenas, at least to start the schedule, while players and team staff must adhere to a number of protocols when on the road — which include being restricted to the hotel and rink.
“The protocols here are very good,” Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen said. “Of course we’re happy to do what we like to do. And I feel grateful for that.”
Players are being tested daily for the novel coronavirus during training camp. That will continue for at least the first four weeks of the regular season, but as seen in Dallas and Columbus, there is still increased risk compared to bubbles the NHL employed to resume the 2019-20 campaign in Toronto and Edmonton.
Leafs forward Joe Thornton said the team he was playing for in Switzerland this fall suspended operations a few times because of the virus, but he’s happy his 23rd NHL season — and first for a Canadian club — is on.
“Finally we’re here,” said the 41year-old. “It’s been a long off-season for everybody involved — fans and players, coaches, and right down the line. We’re all excited to get this thing going.”