NHL suspends regular season games due to COVID-19 pandemic

 

Followed the NBA’s lead, the NHL has suspended regular season games across the league indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t set timetable for when the contests might resume.

The league said in a statement released Thursday afternoon that in light of developments resulting from the COVID19 and after holding a conference call of the Board of Governors as well as consulting with medical experts, the National Hockey League decided to pause the 2019‑20 season.

The NHL has been trying to follow the advice of health experts and local authorities, meanwhile preparing for any developments without taking unnecessary measures. However, after an NBA player has tested positive for COVID-19 and given that their leagues share so many facilities such as locker rooms and some members of the NHL community might test positive at some point, it is not appropriate to continue to play games at this time.

The league will also continue to follow all the appropriate medical advice and will encourage all members of the NHL community to take all reasonable precautions, such as self-quarantine wherever appropriate. Their goal is to resume games as soon as it is prudent and appropriate so that they will be able to complete this year’s season and award the Stanley Cup.

The NHL announced Wednesday night it would consult with medical experts along with the NBA’s decision, which happened after Rudy Gobert of Utah Jazz received a positive test for COVID-19. Meanwhile, no NHL player has tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 has infected more than 245,000 individuals in the U.S., resulting in more than 5,999 deaths. Health experts have called the whole community to limit large gatherings.

In the history of the NHL, it had not played games on 4 other occasions, but that was due to labor disputes: a strike in 1992 and lockouts in 1995, 2004, 2012. The lockout in 2004 cost the league an entire season.