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Lots of interesting elements to the NHL's Phase 2 protocols that will allow players back into team facilities in small groups in the next few weeks. https://t.co/vwMMkwRlF2
— Scott Burnside (@OvertimeScottB) May 25, 2020
Player participation in Phase 2 is strictly voluntary and teams cannot force players to take part or even return to their club cities, which might require further self-quarantine depending on where players have been located during the cessation of league activity in mid-March.
NHL teams can reopen their training facilities to allow a maximum of six players at any one time plus a limited number of club staff. This will only be permitted in communities where health officials have agreed that such activities can be undertaken. If there are areas where teams can’t open their facilities, the league will work with those teams to find alternative arrangements to address issues of competitive balance.
Players who must travel to their team cities but do not have a permanent residence in those cities will be provided hotel accommodations for Phase 2, including family if families are accompanying them.
Even if local health regulations don’t require a 14-day self-quarantine, players traveling to team cities by public transportation of any kind such as commercial air or rail must undergo a 14-day self-quarantine before taking part in these small group sessions. Team medical staff may also request self-quarantine if players are returning from “high-risk” environments.
Testing of asymptomatic players and staff is only to be conducted in communities where there is an excess of testing capacity so as not to take away from health care workers, those who are most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and those members of the community who are showing symptoms.
All players and staff who have access to players taking part in Phase 2 are to be tested 48 hours prior to returning to club facilities with the expectation that results will be available within 24 hours. If those results aren’t available, players and staff cannot enter the team facilities until the test results are available. Assuming testing can be arranged, teams are expected to arrange for regular testing of players and staff who will interact with players at least twice a week.
The league is also exploring a league-wide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing program.
Each team will appoint a hygiene officer who must be a nurse, occupational health and safety professional or infection control professional. The hygiene officer will provide all staff with color-coded badges to indicate their level of contact with players. Hygiene officers will prepare a weekly report ensuring that protocols laid out for Phase 2 are being observed and further provide information regarding non-compliance.
Teams will be required to record symptoms and temperatures of individuals on a daily basis. All personnel who will be taking part in Phase 2 activities will have an app that they would use to record those details prior to arriving at the team facilities. Additionally the team’s designated hygiene officer will establish procedures for a separate temperature and symptom check at the facility before players or staff can enter.
Similar tests will be administered for staff entering the building/rink who don’t have access to the players and a daily log will be kept for all those entering the facilities.
All players will undergo a pre-Phase 2 medical evaluation with a focus on existing injuries, medical conditions and cardiac screening. Staff with access to players will also undergo a medical evaluation and teams could ask that staff not in contact with players do the same. Anyone confirmed to have had COVID-19 or is suspected of having had the virus will undergo further testing.
Anyone who develops symptoms or is sharing a home with someone who develops symptoms must notify club medical staff and self-isolate. They must also inform team medical staff if they believe they’ve come in contact with someone who is positive for the virus. Medical staff will direct care for anyone who tests positive. Contact tracing will be conducted by the team or in conjunction with local health officials immediately after a positive test has been reported.
It isn’t anticipated that an isolated positive test would require a widespread quarantine of the club, although those teammates and staff that may have had contact with a person with a positive test will be tested and the league and NHLPA are to be alerted if there is a positive test.
Activities that are permitted during Phase 2 include skating without contact. No coaches of any kind can participate in on-ice sessions. Goalies may get additional ice time but skaters must have equal access to ice time and a schedule will be established that must be followed. Players can also access in small group exercise and weight training areas at the team’s facility.
Players are not allowed to work out or skate at any other facility and cannot organize their own player skates.
Coaches and hockey operations staff can observe the on-ice activities but must sit in an area separate from players and player access staff and aren’t to have in-person contact with those people.
Fitness testing of players is not permitted during Phase 2.
Players will stay in the same small group (six or less) for all of Phase 2 to lessen the potential for the virus to spread throughout the team. The number of those players who can work out at any one time will be determined by the physical space of the workout or weight area and will be based on social distancing guidelines. Players aren’t to enter the facility except for designated workout and on-ice times.
Players must maintain social distancing during on-ice workouts as well.
Seven days after the start of Phase 2, goaltenders can employ an independent goalie coach, contracted by them, to work with them on a one-on-one basis. Those coaches will have to follow established guidelines for social distancing and testing.
The schedule of workouts on and off ice must allow for proper disinfecting of equipment, and workout and change areas, and prevent overlap of different groups.
Players are encouraged to shower at home and must leave all workout gear at the team facility where it will be washed by team staff.
Each team will have the same number of staff per small group session and cannot exceed one athletic trainer, one strength and conditioning coach, one equipment manager, one or two dressing room attendants, club doctor and, as described above, one goalie coach hired by the goalie.
As much as possible, each group of up to six players will have a different athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and equipment manager to reduce the possibility of cross-infection. Teams may employ staff from their AHL affiliate to accomplish this.
The following groups of people are not allowed access to the team facilities during Phase 2: media, player agents, massage therapists, chiropractors, player performance personnel, family members and other members of the public.
Players from other teams who are sheltering in place near another team’s facilities can ask to use those facilities for on-ice and weight room workouts. Teams can deny such requests but must inform the league and NHLPA of such a refusal for their review.
Players are expected to wear face coverings (cloth or surgical style masks) at all times when entering and leaving team facilities and where social distancing cannot be maintained. These are not required when players are exercising or on the ice.
Players should avoid carpooling and/or taking public transportation to the team’s facilities. This includes taxis and ride-sharing services.
Players aren’t to use saunas, steam rooms, hot and cold tubs.
There is to be no shared use of supplements, gels, balms or creams. Water bottles must be marked by the player’s number and not shared. Meals that are provided by the team will be individually wrapped or packaged and must be consumed at home and not at the team’s facility.
All towels must be considered single-use and should not be shared.
How the NHL handles immigration and what it means for the Return to Play planhttps://t.co/IJu6NdHxug
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) May 25, 2020
Misunderstood NHLPA vote: Many hurdles remain before next vote on Return to Play #mnwild Executive Board member Devan Dubnyk lays out the process ahead https://t.co/M1AxPpPxHA
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 25, 2020
Canes went from 80% chance to make playoffs to a coin flip vs a NYR team that was 4-0 against them. Lots of teams felt there was some inequity; Carolina just had the fortitude to vote against the format. But it was never that the Canes didn’t want to play https://t.co/WMffaX79wQ
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 25, 2020
Imagine the possibilities. 😂 If one of the 8 nameless teams were to win the lottery in late June and secure No. 1 overall, the 16 teams participating in the play-in would know if they lose the play-in they might have a shot at No. 1.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 25, 2020
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