Pats, Blades among 15 teams put on ice by WHL due to COVID

Four of Saskatchewan’s five WHL teams now are shut down by COVID-19, while the fifth has been allowed to resume activities.

The league announced Friday the activities of 15 teams — including the Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Moose Jaw Warriors and Prince Albert Raiders — had been paused after multiple players and staff were added to the COVID protocol list for showing symptoms or having tested positive for the virus.

The Warriors were put on ice by the league Tuesday. The Pats, Blades and Raiders were all new to the list.

The Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Everett Silvertips, Kamloops Blazers, Medicine Hat Tigers, Prince George Cougars, Red Deer Rebels, Spokane Chiefs, Tri-City Americans, Victoria Royals, and Winnipeg Ice also were affected.

The teams can’t participate in any off-ice training or on-ice practice sessions during the hiatus.

The move forced the league to postpone eight more regular-season games, including Regina’s home contest against the Hitmen on Tuesday, Prince Albert’s game Tuesday in Edmonton, and Moose Jaw’s home game Wednesday against Calgary.

A home-and-home between the Pats and Blades on Friday and Saturday previously had been postponed.

Meanwhile, the Swift Current Broncos — who were put on pause by the league on Dec. 30 — have been cleared to resume activities, along with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

“The WHL and our member clubs remain fully committed to playing through the 68-game WHL regular-season schedule and playoffs,” WHL commissioner Ron Robison said in a release.

“As we work through the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our priority continues to be to deliver a world-class development experience for WHL players, staff, and officials, and to do so in a safe and healthy manner.”

The WHL said all of its teams have to watch for symptoms of COVID among their players and staff daily.

If someone shows symptoms, they have to take a rapid antigen test and isolate immediately. If that test comes back positive, the individual is sent for a PCR test.

Multiple positive rapid antigen tests mean all team activities are paused immediately and the entire team must complete a round of PCR testing while also isolating.

“The WHL, in consultation with its Chief Medical Officer, treats each situation as unique,” the league said in the release. “As such, the WHL Chief Medical Officer reviews all positive test results and scenarios on a case-by-case basis, factoring in a number of variables, including travel, recent schedule, and potential exposures that may have occurred.”