All details surrounding "how the NHL plans to operate and maintain what it is calling a 'secure zone'" for its hub cities concept have "emerged for the first time," according to Frank Seravalli of TSN.ca. Each team "will be permitted to bring a maximum of 52 individuals inside the secure zone, including ownership, players, coaches, executives and staff." Teams are permitted to bring "no more than 31 players." Every person "inside the NHL's 'bubble' will be tested for COVID-19 daily via nasal swab, also administered temperature checks and symptom screenings." In effect, any person who "has contact or may come into contact (even indirectly) will be tested daily." Seravalli wrote it is "easy to imagine the NHL requiring upwards of 2,000 tests daily to begin the 24-team tournament." The NHL and NHLPA at "any time before or during play in the 24-team tournament" have the ability to "postpone, delay, move or cancel any games in the event conditions present 'risk to player health and safety' and/or jeopardize 'the integrity of the competition.'" No specific number of positive cases was provided in the protocol to "define the 'uncontrolled outbreak' threshold." Any team that "violates the rules set in the protocol will be subject to 'significant penalties, potentially including fines and/or loss of draft picks.'" Additionally, any player "may choose to not participate in the return-to-play tournament for any reason and without penalty." The deadline to opt-out "will be three days after this return-to-play protocol package is ratified by a vote." No player who tests positive or develops symptoms will be "identified to media or publicly, absent approval from the NHL or NHLPA" (TSN.ca, 7/5).
PROCEDURE AFTER POSITIVE TEST: TSN's Bob McKenzie reported players will be "extracted from the situation" should they test positive. There is a "hugely detailed testing protocol here where 48 hours before players return to training camp they are tested." McKenzie: "They are tested every other day after that. Temperature and symptom checks have to be conducted on the players when they’re at home, prior to two hours before they leave their home to go to the arena, and, again, more temperature and symptom checks when they show up at the rink.” If a player "does test positive, he is pulled out of the situation, whether it’s phase three or phase four, and then obviously goes through an entire regiment of treatment to find out whether it is actually a true positive test." There also is a "whole protocol for whether that players gets back into action anytime depending on how things roll out, whether the player’s symptomatic or a whole host of other factors that get taken into consideration” (“SportsCentre,” TSN, 7/5). Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported the NHL can shut down play for anything that "gives the league reason to believe that players’ health is jeopardized on a meaningful level." Johnston: "We’re talking about if there’s a mini-outbreak within a team or maybe even multiple teams, that could do it. Anything that threatens the integrity of the competition. That sort of goes part and parcel. ... Safety is going to be number one" ("Instant Analysis," Sportsnet, 7/5).
HOTEL RULES: THE ATHLETIC's Russo & Burnside reported it is "expected that all participants staying at a secure-zone hotel will remain on site at all times throughout Phase 4." Participants can leave if, among other considerations, there are "extenuating circumstances, like the birth of a child, a family illness or a death or an important family event." Those who leave during Phase 4 will be "required to return at least four consecutive negative PCR test results over a four-day period and will be required to quarantine in his or her hotel room until such testing requirements have been fulfilled." The secure zone hotel rules include the following:
- Each person gets "his or her own room." No guests are allowed in a room. When family members are allowed during the conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final, they will be "given their own hotel rooms." If family members "want to reside with a player or staff, they can if they satisfy testing and quarantine requirements."
- Each club will be assigned a "designated floor." If possible, clubs will be "provided additional space on their floor for access to single-wrapped snacks and single-serve beverages."
- The hotel lobby and bars will be "open and available as long as there’s proper physical distancing."
- The pool, "if open, is permitted for use as long as appropriate distancing measures are taken and individuals disinfect lounge chairs before and after use."
MORE GUIDELINES: Social excursions will be "arranged inside and outside the secure zone, provided that disinfecting and distancing and the use of face coverings and personal hygiene measures can be maintained." Clubs will be required to supply "player-specific, labeled water bottles for their players" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/6).
