Canucks buoyed by no COVID-19 trouble in Edmonton bubble
No bubble trouble.
That was the comforting early impression of what the Vancouver Canucks experienced after they arrived in the Edmonton hub Sunday and practiced Monday afternoon.
In advance of their lone exhibition game today against the Winnipeg Jets, and their best-of-five qualifying series with the Minnesota Wild that opens Sunday, it wasn’t about rollcall, line combinations or tempo Monday. It wasn’t about all-hands-on-deck or Zack MacEwen back at practice.
It was knowing that the Sutton Place Hotel – their home-away-from-home – and Rogers Place are adhering to coronavirus pandemic safety edicts.
If the Canucks’ 52-member entourage needed further proof, the NHL provided it. The league reported that in a period from July 18-25 that concluded Phase 3 of its Return to Play plan, there were no positive virus tests among 4,256 tests administered to more than 800 players.
And among NHL referees and linesmen, who have been holding mini-camps in the Edmonton and Toronto hubs since July 21, there have also been zero positive tests.
By comparison, baseball is in crisis mode.
Two games scheduled for Monday were postponed as the Miami Marlins dealt with a virus outbreak that left the club stranded in Philadelphia because nine players and five staff members tested positive Friday.
The Marlins’ home-opener against the Baltimore Orioles was called off as was the New York Yankees’ game at Philadelphia.
The Yankees would have been in the same clubhouse the Marlins used last weekend.
It’s early, but Edmonton and Toronto can take a hub-host bow.
“I’m really impressed,” said Canucks captain Bo Horvat. “It’s a testament to how serious they (NHL) are taking this and all the protocols to make sure they’re keeping their players safe. It’s a huge plus.
And it’s great that the guys are taking it seriously too and not putting themselves in vulnerable situations where they could attract the virus and put their teammates at risk.
“And we have to keep doing this. It’s unfortunate what happened in baseball and we don’t want that here. But we’re all in a bubble and getting tested every day and there shouldn’t be any problems as long as we’re smart.”