NHL Restart – League ready to move to Phase 2

Carolina Hurricanes still studying options on when, where

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

 

Peter Koutroumpis

editor@trianglesportsnet.com

RALEIGH, N.C. – The National Hockey League (NHL) is ready to move to Phase 2 according to a release communicated on Thursday.

As part of its Return To Play Plan, Phase 2 would start effective Mon., June 8.

Teams will only do so “subject to each Club’s satisfaction of all of the requirements set out in the Phase 2 Protocol,” as per the release.

For local fans, as of Friday morning, the Carolina Hurricanes are “still studying all options”, according to a team spokesperson.

Whether they use PNC Arena, the practice facility at Raleigh Center Ice (RCI), or other facilities, are some of the particular details to be considered, among myriad others.

Per the NHL’s communication, “clubs will be permitted to reopen their training facilities in their home city to allow players to participate in individualized training activities (off-ice and on-ice). Players will be participating on a voluntary basis and will be scheduled to small groups (i.e., a maximum of six Players at any one time, plus a limited number of Club staff). The various measures set out in the Phase 2 Protocol are intended to provide players with a safe and controlled environment in which to resume their conditioning. Phase 2 is not a substitute for training camp.

All necessary preparations for Phase 2, including those that require Player participation (education, diagnostic testing, scheduling for medicals, etc.), can begin immediately.”

With many more details to discuss and vote on before play resumes, the NHL and the NHLPA continue to negotiate over an agreement on the resumption of play.

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