The coronavirus has impacted the hockey world in a major way. The NHL has officially suspended its season due to the ongoing pandemic. The league is aiming to resume action on July 31 with a 24-team return-to-play format.
The AHL has officially ended its season, while the OHL has cancelled the remainder of its regular season. The ECHL has cancelled both its regular season and playoffs.
Here’s an ongoing list of the NHL players who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Arizona Coyotes
June 12 – A staff member of the Arizona Coyotes has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. The staff member, who is in the Valley, is asymptomatic and feeling well, and is in isolation at his home. Individuals who had close contact with the staff member have been notified.
Boston Bruins
June 12 – A Bruins player tested positive for the COVID-19 virus prior to returning to the team’s facilities for Phase 2 of the NHL’s Return To Play Plan. The player underwent two subsequent tests, and both returned negative. The player remains asymptomatic.
Colorado AvalancheÂ
March 26 – An unnamed player on the Colorado Avalanche has tested positive for COVID-19. The player has been at home in isolation since the first symptoms appeared, has recovered and is back to normal. The Avalanche have notified anyone who has had known close contact with the athlete.
March 28 – A second unnamed player on the Avalanche has tested positive for COVID-19. The player is in self-isolation. Any Avalanche player or staff who may have had close contact with the player have been informed and remain isolated as per the NHL’s prior direction.
April 7 – The NHL announced that a third player on the Avalanche has tested positive for COVID-19. The player is in self-isolation and hasn’t had any close contact with any other Avalanche players or staff members.
Ottawa Senators
March 19 – A player on the Ottawa Senators became the first NHL’er to test positive for the virus. According to reports out of Russia, 28-year-old Russian blueliner Nikita Zaitsev has tested positive for COVID-19.
Reports out of Russia Nikita Zaitsev is the Sens player to be ill with COVID-19
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) March 19, 2020
March 21 – A second Ottawa Senators player has now tested positive for COVID-19. While we don’t know the specific player as of now, we do know that they were on the Senators’ recent road trip that included games in San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles.
According to Hockey Night in Canada’s Chris Johnston, there could be up to eight Ottawa Senators players with COVID-19.
According to the #sens, eight of the 52 people on their road trip through California have displayed COVID-19 symptoms and been tested. There's been two positive results so far, with more test results still pending.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 21, 2020
April 1 – The Sens announced that four additional members of the organization who travelled to California before the NHL season pause tested positive for COVID-19. Members of the team and staff self-isolated on Friday, March 13, and are all doing well. All test results have now been received, and all those who tested positive have recovered. TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that of the additional four members who contracted the virus, three of them are believed to be players on the Senators.
#Sens announce 4 additional members of the organization who travelled to California prior to season's pause have tested positive for COVID-19.
Believed to be 3 players and 1 staff member.
That brings #NHL total to 7 players COVID-19+, 5 on the #sens and 2 on the #Avs.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 1, 2020
San Jose Sharks
March 12 – A part-time employee at SAP Center has tested positive for COVID-19. This person is under self-quarantine and receiving care from medical professionals. They last worked at the San Jose Sharks game at SAP Center against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 3, 2020. The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department banned public gatherings of over 1,000 people on March 5th.
St. Louis Blues
March 22 – A relative of a St. Louis Blues’ employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The diagnosed individual is in self-isolation along with members of the individual’s family. All Blues’ staff who may have come into close contact with the employee have been notified. Each player on the Blues has been requested to remain isolated, to monitor their health and to seek advice from the team’s medical staff.
Tampa Bay Lightning
June 19 – The Tampa Bay Lightning had to temporarily close its training facilities during Phase Two because multiple players and some staff had tested positive for COVID-19. According to TSN Insider Bob McKenzie, it was three players and two staff members who tested positive.
Toronto Maple Leafs
June 19 – Auston Matthews has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, according to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun. Toronto goalie, Frederik Anderson, who had been living with Matthews at his home in Scottdale, Arizona, did not test positive for COVID-19.
Vancouver Canucks
March 15 – No player on the Vancouver Canucks has tested positive for COVID-19 but the team did confirm that a member of their full-time office staff tested positive for the virus. This individual is receiving care, has been placed in quarantine and is feeling better. The Canucks stated that the particular individual doesn’t have a fan-facing role and is not believed to be in contact with the players, hockey operations personnel or the staff at Rogers Arena.
