Over 20 players on KHL team reportedly test positive for COVID-19

NHL hockey is back, baby!

With the NHL returning to action this week and with third party doctors confirming that there are ZERO cases of COVID-19 amongst its players and staff, things seem to be off to a great start in the NHL’s Return to Play plan. I mean, compare the NHL to the MLB right now and it’s clear to see how the NHL has succeeded where the MLB failed. 

The NHL, of course, is running the conclusion of its 2019-20 season in a “bubble” with players effectively quarantining themselves from the general public in either Toronto (Eastern Conference) or Edmonton (Western Conference). Players are tested multiple times daily and are not allowed to participate… well anything really… unless they can provide a negative test result. Compare that to the MLB who elected to go ahead with the 2020 season outside the “bubble” and with very few safety protocols in place. As a result, the league has had an outbreak on the Miami Marlins and have been forced to postpone the team’s games indefinitely. It’s unclear how this will affect the rest of the league’s season, but it’s safe to say that the outlook is not looking so great right now.

Meanwhile, in Mother Russia things aren’t so hot either…

The KHL is hoping to begin their 2020-21 season this summer, but several teams have been forced to close up their training camps due to an overwhelming amount of positive COVID-19 cases. In one team’s case, Avangard Omsk, as many as 20 players have reportedly tested positive in recent days.

Check it out:

Hearing up to 20 players infected with Co-vid 19 in Avangard Omsk in KHL, that is Reid Boucher’s team.

Boucher has not arrived in Russia yet.

Most of the team is being quarantined right now.

Interestingly enough, Avangard Omsk was scheduled to play an exhibition tournament in Sochi, Russia this week but pulled out of the tournament with no stated reason. Now, it’s obvious why.

I might be stating the obvious here, but if this trend continues then there's absolutely no way that the KHL season goes on. Again... operate in a bubble or don't operate at all. For once, the NHL is showing the rest of the sporting world how to do things right.