New cluster affecting Vancouver Canucks worries NHL
More than half of the players of the Vancouver Canucks, Canada’s fifth NHL franchise in the North Division (16 wins-21 losses), are in isolation.
More than twenty positive cases for Covid-19 have been identified – including 19 players and at least three coaches – within the team where the Frenchman Antoine Roussel plays, himself positive. According to information gathered by ESPN, several members of the formation developed symptoms, some of them in a very degraded state of form.
According to ESPN, highly dehydrated players are on intravenous
A player would have, according to the US media, evoked severe cases of dehydration in teammates, some of whom would be treated by intravenous at their home. Sources indicate that many family members of those who tested positive were also believed to have been infected.
What hovers around the case the specter of the dangerous P1 variant of Covid-19, also known as “Brazilian variant”, more contagious and lethal, and whose active circulation, currently in Vancouver, alarms the local authorities.
« Our players, coaches and their families are grateful for the messages they have received and we all hope for a return to normal as soon as possible », reacted the franchise in a statement Sunday.
Resumption postponed sine die
The reopening of the training center, initially scheduled for Tuesday, is postponed until further notice. The first case of Vancouver, which was to return to ice this Thursday, was detected last Tuesday. Adam Gaudette had to leave training after the announcement of a positive test. He was two days later followed in solitary confinement by Travis Hamonic, and on Friday by Alexandre Edler, Braden Holtby, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen and Antoine Roussel.
This weekend the list grew, with Travis Boyd, Thatcher Demko, Jayce Hawryluk, Bo Horvat, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, Brandon Sutter, Jalen Chatfield and Marc Michaelis.
The League is worried about the whole team being positive for Covid-19. With this in mind, some sources suggest that the NHL is considering postponing the end of the regular season in the North Division and playing games after May 11.
Montreal had already had to deal with positive cases, leading to the postponement of four meetings to March. The Canadiens’ players have since resumed. In early February, the NHL had tightened its protocol due to an increase in positive cases.
