When One Is Too Many

I often say that sports is a microcosm of society, and there are usually instances in sports that mirror what we see in society. We've already seen the Ottawa Senators go into full lock-down mode after tow of their players tested positive for COVID-19, and now it appears there will be a second team instituting full quarantine measures after a second case of coronavirus was detected in a player yesterday. The Colorado Avalanche had their first case confirmed on Thursday, and the team announced that they had a second positive test yesterday in a second player.

The Avalanche also announced that the first player who tested positive had already recovered, but there's now four positive tests in the NHL in total with the potential for more with some of these athletes being asymptomatic. It should also be noted that Ottawa Senators broadcaster Gord Wilson, a TSN 1200 employee, has also tested positive for coronavirus after he came down with symptoms, and was on the plane that was in San Jose where it's suspected the Ottawa players contracted the virus. Joining Wilson from the broadcasting side of the coin is St. Louis Blues play-by-play announcer John Kelly as the St. Louis Blues made that announcement on Friday.

It should be noted that because there is very limited data on the coronavirus that medical professionals and scientists don't know if a person is a carrier once they recover nor do they know if a person can be infected again by the virus. Because of this limited data and testing, the NHL shoudl exercise greater precautions when it comes to allowing those who tested positive to return to hockey if or when hockey returns.

Both Ottawa and Colorado were the last teams to play in San Jose before the NHL shut down, so it seems like these cases regarding the players may have originated in Santa Clara county. The problem with this entire situation is that the incubation periods in people seems to be around twelve days, so there may be other players and staff who are currently infected. Once again, and I cannot stress this enough, everyone needs to stay home and remain in self-isolation.

With the NHL cancelling all June events, it might be time to just accept the reality of the situation, be intelligent about keeping everyone safe, and abandon any idea of hockey until at least September. We've seen the Spanish flu take out the 1919 Stanley Cup Final and we've seen a lockout kill the 2004-05 season, so it's not like there haven't been years where the Stanley Cup hasn't been awarded. Adding 2019-20 to that list in order to secure the safety of everyone involved in putting on NHL games seems like a small sacrifice in the bigger picture.

With COVID-19 finding its way inside the NHL, the isolation that the players and staff are under will help curb the spread of the virus further. If sports is a microcosm of society, we should be doing what the NHL players are doing and isolating as much as possible in order to prevent the virus from spreading further. Four cases is still too many cases when one considers that the NHL wants to kick things back into gear in June, but it could be much, much worse considering all the interactions NHL players and personnel have on a daily basis.

For once, the NHL may have gotten something right during these trying times. Stay home, be safe, and keep your distance!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!