Sharks, NHL returning to action, but more game cancellations and protocol absences

The Sharks are plan- ning to return to action tonight after having their previous three scheduled games postponed because of COVID-19 concerns, but other teams — in the Bay Area and around North America — are facing significant challenges with the emergence of the omi- cron variant.

The Warriors also are scheduled to play at home tonight, but there is no telling who will be in uniform against the Nuggets after five players, including starters Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Jus- tin Poole, were placed in protocols over the past two weeks.

San Jose State’s men’s basketball team was supposed to open Mountain West Conference play this weekend, but COVID-19-related concerns within the program forced the Spartans to cancel their first three MWC games.

The No. 2 ranked Stanford women’s basketball team announced its Pac12 opener scheduled for Friday in Seattle has been postponed because of COVID-19 protocols within the Washington program.

Now the defending national champs will begin conference play Jan. 2 at Washington State. Cal’s game scheduled for Sunday in Seattle also has been postponed.

It’s not just Bay Areabased teams facing significant challenges.

The NHL shut down for the annual Christmas break two days earlier than usual and extended it through Monday given the COVID-19 cases and spread of the delta and omicron variants. The Sharks are among the teams scheduled to return Tuesday, but the league is proceeding with caution. The Vegas Golden Knights said coach Peter DeBoer won’t attend

Tuesday’s game at Los Angeles, and the league on Monday postponed three more games slated for later this week to bring the total to 70 this season. As of now, the Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild is still scheduled to be played at Target Field in Minneapolis on Saturday night in keeping with the league’s New Year’s Day tradition.

The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East each announced Monday they were scrapping three men’s basketball games scheduled to take place over the next several days, including No. 2 Duke’s game Wednesday night at Clemson. Reports suggest Duke’s game Saturday against Notre Dame also will be canceled. In women’s basketball, Arizona’s Pac-12 opening weekend has been wiped out because of virus issues at USC and UCLA.

Several college football games have been canceled, including Monday night’s Military Bowl. Washington State (Sun Bowl) and Central Michigan (Arizona Bowl) will face each other in the Sun Bowl on Friday after their original partners had to bow out because of COVID issues.