NHL “Pauses” Season In Wake Of Coronavirus Concern
Mar 12, 2020, 12:04 PM | Updated: Jun 3, 2020, 12:38 pm
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NHL announced they are pausing the hockey season in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The announcement came after the NBA suspended their season after Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell tested positive for COVID-19 (the illness from Coronavirus).
The halt of the NHL begins with games being played the evening of March, 12.
The @NHL pauses 2019-20 season. https://t.co/WMePei4clH pic.twitter.com/W5Hqmk3kX7
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 12, 2020
“In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call of the Board of Governors, the National Hockey League is announcing today that it will pause the 2019-20 season beginning with tonight’s games,” read the statement.
NHL teams are currently in the playoff hunt. The regular season runs from October to early April. The league has made no mention of the impact the “pause” will have on the postseason.