Trudeau does not expect business in the country to return to normal before July
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "doesn't expect business in the country to return to normal before July," so if the NHL is "serious about returning to complete this season and award the Stanley Cup, then the reality is that may not happen before the summer and that's certainly one of the scenarios the league is studying at the moment," according to Bruce Garrioch of the OTTAWA SUN. Listening to Trudeau yesterday "made it sound like the possibility of a training camp in July is a best-case scenario." It "certainly sounds like summer hockey may be the only option the league has" (OTTAWA SUN, 4/2).
TIME TO PULL THE PLUG? In Ottawa, Ken Warren writes under the header, "Is It Time For The NHL To Officially Cancel The Season?" At what point does the NHL and every other major sports organization "take a deep step back and simply pull the plug on everything for the next three months." Yesterday's news that four more members of the Senators organization have tested positive for coronavirus "should hit home." Toronto Mayor John Tory has "made it clear that all city-led public gatherings will be banned until at least Canada Day" on July 1. If it is "not deemed safe to gather in the streets of Toronto," is it "safe to gather inside to watch" Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews or Raptors F Pascal Siakam? (OTTAWA SUN, 4/2).
