Cross-border games in NHL postponed

LOS ANGELES • The National Hockey League (NHL) on Sunday suspended all games involving cross-border travel between Canada and the United States because of Covid-19, putting in doubt its players' ability to participate at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The league was scheduled to take a three-week break next month, so that the NHL could take part in the Winter Games for the first time since Sochi 2014.

But, with close to 40 games postponed due to Covid-19 outbreaks, the league might now have to use that time to get the regular season schedule back on track.

The NHL said on Sunday it is expected to make a decision, in conjunction with the players' association (NHLPA), regarding the Beijing Games in the coming days.

"Given the disruption to the NHL's regular-season schedule caused by recent Covid-related events and the continued uncertainty caused by the ongoing pandemic, the NHL and NHLPA are actively discussing the matter of NHL player participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, and expect to be in a position to announce a final determination in the coming days," a spokesman added.

Officials postponed about a dozen cross-border games from yesterday to Thursday on top of two dozen contests already shelved due to Covid-19 concerns.

"Due to the concern about cross-border travel and, given the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions, effective on Monday, all games involving a Canadian-based team playing a United States-based team from Dec 20 through the start of the holiday break on Dec 23, will be postponed and rescheduled," the NHL said.

On Saturday, the league added the Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs were effectively shutting down early for the holidays, with the Detroit Red Wings added to the list a day later.

The NHL is hoping its 100 per cent vaccination record - which is among the best of all the major pro sports in North America - will help it avoid a complete shutdown.

"We will continue to play the 2021-22 regular-season schedule," the league said.

"Although there has been a recent increase in positive Covid-19 test results among players, coaches and hockey staff, there have been a low number of positive cases that have resulted in concerning symptoms or serious illness.

"With virtually all players and club hockey staff fully vaccinated, the need to temporarily shut down teams should continue to be made on a case-by-case basis."

But in order for the regular season to carry on without impacting the play-offs, the break to accommodate the Olympics may have to give way.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said recently that the league and the vast majority of the players are still in favour of participating in the Olympics, although this was before the recent surge in cases.

The NHL has a Jan 10 deadline to opt out of the Olympics without financial penalty.

Just one player, Robin Lehner, who plays for the Vegas Golden Knights and Sweden, has officially said he would decline an invitation to the Feb 4-20 Games.

But many others, like some of the top Canadian players in the NHL, are already on the fence about participating, due to tough quarantine rules imposed by Beijing in the event of a positive case.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said: "It's obviously going to be a very fluid situation. There hasn't been a ton of information (coming) out, and then there's that three-to five-week (quarantine) thing. It's kind of been floating around.

"Obviously, it's unsettling if that were to be the case when you go over there.

The absence of NHL stars would be a big blow for the Winter Games organisers as ice hockey is one of the biggest draws at the quadrennial competition.

Before 1988, NHL players were not allowed to participate and they were also barred on three other occasions, including 1992, 1994 and 2018, due to scheduling conflicts.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE