The Dallas Stars had six players and two team members who tested positive for COVID-19, and the NHL expects the team not to open its 2020-21 season before January 19.
Those with a positive test are self-isolated and follow the CDC and NHL protocols. The positive tests have forced the stars to close their training facilities, and they will remain closed for several days while more daily tests and contact tracking are carried out.
According to NHL policy in the pre-season, the names of those who tested positive were not released.
The regular NHL season is scheduled to start on Wednesday, January 13th. Dallas, the defending champion of the Western Conference, was scheduled to be on the road for the first four games of the season, playing against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning in two. The game runs until January 19. The home debut is scheduled for January 22, against the Nashville Predators.
Dallas is one of four NHL teams that intend to open the season with fans in attendance, with a maximum capacity of 30% for about 5,000 fans.
“The League is in the process of reviewing and reviewing the Stars’ regular season schedule with the expectation that the team will not open its 2020-21 season before Tuesday, January 19th. The Stars organization has, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines designed to protect the health and safety of its players, team and community in general, as established by the NHL, local, state and national agencies, “announced the NHL on Friday.
The NHL and NHLPA anticipated the possible postponement of the games in the elaboration of the schedule of 56 games for this season, creating space to compensate them.