Omicron variant
NHL interrupts season due to high numbers of infections – probably no players to Beijing
The German NHL professional Leon Draisaitl (r.) From the Edmonton Oilers has first time off
© Jason Franson / DPA
The Omikron variant has North America firmly under control. The NHL ice hockey league is now also suffering from this. She had to interrupt the season because of the numerous infections and failed games.
The NHL is extending the Christmas break and is now interrupting the ice hockey season because of the many corona cases in the league. One day after ruling out such a move, the NHL announced its U-turn in a statement on Monday evening (local time). According to this, all 32 teams have to take a complete break from December 22nd to 25th, are not allowed to train and are only allowed to travel again or go on the ice from the afternoon on December 26th. For the interruption, the NHL canceled the five games scheduled on Thursday. On Wednesday there was no game left anyway because of the cancellations of the past few days.
The number of canceled games since the start of the season has risen to 49. The participation of professionals from the world’s best ice hockey league in the Olympic Games is becoming increasingly unlikely. The NHL had agreed with the players’ union on a season break in February to enable stars like the German national players Leon Draisaitl and Philip Grubauer to travel to China. But if the risks as a result of the pandemic or the number of games to be caught up becomes too great, the league can say goodbye to this promise – and both now seem to be the case.
NHL orders closure of training facilities
The last two remaining games on Tuesday should still take place, the only match on Monday evening was lost by the Minnesota Wild 4-7 against the Dallas Stars. The Augsburg Nico Sturm remained without a goal participation for the game.
Even before the extended Christmas break, the NHL had ordered other teams to close their training facilities and canceled games. The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Montreal Canadiens are no longer allowed to train as teams and will not do so until at least December 26th. Therefore, there are no two games of the Blue Jackets against the Buffalo Sabers. The games of the Canadiens had previously been canceled. The game of the New Jersey Devils at the Pittsburgh Penguins scheduled for Tuesday (local time) will also not be played.