|
The Jets are not happy with NHL’s new COVID-19 protocols |
|
|
|
|
|
On Thursday the National Hockey League revised their protocols on arena access, coming in a week that saw the league postpone multiple games involving the Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres.
In the update to COVID-19 protocols, players now are “not permitted to arrive at the game arena more than 1 hour and 45 minutes before puck drop.” Exceptions will be made for players who need to undergo treatment for injuries.
The change has not gone over too well inside some NHL dressing rooms, sparking pushback from teams, Winnipeg included.
“That’s not easily adaptable, we’ve already had a few phone conversations regarding that this morning. Really, really unhappy with that part of it. Some of the protocols in place, the virtual meetings, the spreading out guys in the room, I really understand that part. But, not being allowed in the facility till an hour forty five, we’ve got guys that show up here before 4 o’clock for a 7 o’clock game,” said Jets forward Andrew Copp.
“It’s getting your mind right, it’s getting your body right to put out the best possible product for the fans and trying to lower injury as much as possible.”
On Thursday the league had 41 players unavailable as they all landed on the league's COVID-19 protocol list. One of those 41 is newly acquired Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois who continues his quarantine in Canada upon arrival from the United States.
“I mean, this is pretty much the only place we’re allowed to come. We’re not supposed to go to each other’s houses, not going to restaurants, pretty much not doing anything” said Copp.
“The one place we’ve made a safe place is the locker room and the rink, and now we’re here in the morning for three hours, four hours, we’re going to be at the rink [during games] for another four or five hours at least, I don’t see what the difference is between 5:15 and a 4:15 entrance for guys.”
It’s easy to understand what the league is trying to do as the spread of COIVD-19 across the league and the postponement of hockey games continues to grow. But like Copp mentioned, does arriving to the rink an hour later than normal really prevent much when you’re sitting closely to players on the bench during practices, morning skates and games.
“I truly believe that everybody is doing the best they can with the information they have and not all solutions are solutions, it’s a step forward, it’s a step taken to try to fix something when you’re not 100% sure whether that’s going to be the difference for you,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice. “You’re trying to fix a part of your game and that part is keeping the players healthy.”
Copp serves as one of the Jets player reps. With his positioning in the league, he’s been involved in a lot of talks surrounding the league’s return-to-play protocols in both last year’s bubble and this year’s 2020-21 season.
But in discussions involving this change, a change that impacts the players in a massive way, Copp and the rest of the National Hockey League’s Players Association had no idea such change was being put into motion.
“I don’t know the exact—how that process went down. There’s no pointing fingers at the [NHL]PA or any of that. There may have been conversations and maybe I just wasn’t a part of them and which I’m one of 700 players or whatever it is,” said Copp. “Whether I was part of the committee or not doesn’t have much to do with what just happened. But, if the other 699 guys agree we shouldn’t be here until 5:15, then that’s we’re going to do. Obviously I have my opinion, everyone else has theirs.”
Jets center Mark Scheifele also serves as a team player rep inside the NHLPA and has a similar feeling as his teammate does.
“We kind of just got told about it today. I don’t think people understand the amount of work we put in to get ready for a game. Mentally and physically, you’re getting prepped. We have our meetings and all the things we try to do to get our bodies ready,” said Scheifele.
“To shorten that time is pretty insane if you ask me. You can’t expect guys to just show up, put on their gear and play. To just spring this on us is pretty crazy. As a guy that tries to take care of my body the best I can every single day, you can’t just expect guys to throw on their gear and go play hockey.”
Additional measures taking place after the protocols were revised is the removal of the partitions of shielding that are behind the home and visiting team benches, the creation of additional locker room space to keep players six feet apart and virtual meetings on gamedays. The league is also looking into installing portable air purification systems near the benches.
“Obviously the doctors are trying to do what’s best for slowing the spread that has gone on in some of the rooms. But there’s a line we have to walk between guys getting hurt and not allowing guys in the rink until a certain time and putting a great product on the ice,” said Copp. “I’m 26, the guys that are 36, older than that, they need time to get ready for hockey games, you can’t just show up and play.”
Maurice praised the Jets and their staff for how seriously they’ve taken the protocols laid out by local governments and the league dating back to their experience inside the NHL’s playoff bubble over the summer. Copp even mentioned that the Jets are taking extra precautions, such as wearing masks during actives such as working out. Something that is not currently mandated by the league.
From the start of the season the league has been forced to postpone games as the Dallas Stars had to delay the start of their season due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The issue hasn’t gotten much better as a total of 26 games have been postponed through Feb. 5.
There certainly will be more.
Even with the growing number of COVID-19 related issues across the league, Copp and the Jets plan on fighting the arena arrival time change.
“We will be fighting it for sure, and we’re taking all the proper precautions. Everyone is wearing a mask up until we go onto the ice, even when we’re working out in the gym which isn’t really part of the protocol, just something we’ve done which no one [else] is really wearing a mask when working out,” Copp said.
“Really really upset about that and it will be fought for sure in the next few days."
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»