NHL looks to re-open facilities by mid-May
We could start to see NHL players return to the ice and begin practicing again sooner rather than later according to a memorandum released to players and teams on Wednesday afternoon.
“While the precise date … remains tentative and as of yet undetermined, we do feel that we may be able to – provided we continue to trend favourably – to move to ‘Phase 2’ at some point in the mid-to-later portion of May,” said the league’s deputy commissioner Billy Daly in the memo according to TSN.
Various hockey players have expressed their frustration with their lack of ability to skate or practice, but all seem to understand the precautions in place and the need to ensure people’s health and safety comes first.
The NHL announced their four-phase plan approach to return to action a couple of weeks ago, with Phase two consisting of gathering all international players and having them return to North America to report to their teams where small group training and individual workouts would commence.
Daly also advised all players staying away from where their club teams are based to consider the options of returning to their club’s city as they will likely have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period when they arrive back.
“Players and club staff who may currently be sheltering outside of the club’s home city should consider whether to plan to return to their club cities, understanding the attendant travel restrictions and self-quarantine measures that may either be imposed by the NHL/NHLPA or remain applicable in certain jurisdictions,” Daly said, according to Sportsnet. “For example, some jurisdictions continue to require a strict 14-day home quarantine following international travel.”
The issue could be finding flights back though, with commercial airlines canceling and suspending flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hockey is a truly international sport with players coming from across the globe and with many NHLers currently in Europe.
The NHL also has seven teams playing in Canada and with U.S.-Canadian cross-border travel limited to essential services at the moment, it may be difficult for players to travel across the continent. Which is why the NHL is hoping that by mid-to-late May they can initiate moving into Phase 2 of their plan, it remains much more unclear as to when they can transition into Phase 3 or Phase 4.
Both Phase 3 and Phase 4 would likely require government approval before they become options for the NHL. Phase would consist of hub-cities being created that would host multiple teams in order to facilitate a two-to-three-week full training camp that would allow full rosters to train and practice together. These cities have not yet been identified.
Phase 4 would see the return of action with NHL games being able to take place again. Whether games are played in a few select cities or across the entire continent remains anybody’s guess right now.
The NHL has been suspended since March 12th, teams playing around 70 games of an 82-game schedule. The hope is still to conclude the 2019-2020 season and award the Stanley Cup.
