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Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday that the
NHL will end its current hiatus with 24 teams resuming play in a
playoff format in two hub cities as soon as late July.
Three Canadian cities - Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver - are
among the 10 cities under consideration to host the playoffs,
but Bettman said Canadian cities could be eliminated if the
nation doesn't exempt NHL personnel from border crossing rules.
Kenney outlined to Trudeau in a letter dated Tuesday just how
Edmonton could keep NHL players and staff safe, including the
establishment of a "quarantine zone" that includes using hotels
linked to the arena. He said local public health officials
support the plan.
"Alberta began its phased relaunch of our economy on May 14, and
there have been no measurable increases in the case numbers for
coronavirus in the province. New COVID-19 cases in Edmonton are
averaging one per day, with recovered cases far outweighing any
new infections," he wrote.
Under the plan laid out by Bettman on Tuesday, each hub city
will have secure arenas, practice facilities, hotels and local
transportation for players, coaches and essential staffs. Teams
will be limited to a staff of just 50 members in each hub city,
and fewer will be permitted in event areas. Each hub city will
have a comprehensive system of coronavirus testing set up before
any play resumes.
--Field Level Media
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