Leafs captain John Tavares pens open letter to hockey fans

Toronto Maple Leafs fans have received a message from the team’s captain, as John Tavares posted an open letter to fans on his personal Twitter account.

Tavares encouraged everyone to follow the advice of health experts, by staying home, washing our hands, and practicing social distancing. He also thanked healthcare and frontline workers, before expressing his desire to return to the ice once it’s safe to do so.

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It’s been 16 days since the Leafs last played an NHL game (a big 2-1 win against Tampa Bay at home, remember?), with no clear timetable lying ahead. The league is keeping all of its options open right now, which includes potentially playing games in July and August for the first time.

Here’s the full letter from Tavares:

#BEATTHEVIRUS pic.twitter.com/4Dm0JqGT5r

— John Tavares (@91Tavares) March 25, 2020

To Hockey Fans in Toronto & Beyond:

Let’s all play inside & play for each other. With this challenge comes great opportunity to enjoy quality time with family and loved ones. Let’s take care of each other by washing our hands frequently and practicing social distancing. 

To all the healthcare & frontline workers, thank you! Thank you for your courage, determination and hard work to fight this crisis. We are all extremely grateful. 

To Leafs nation, my teammates and I can’t wait until we get the opportunity again to put on our skates, and wear the Maple Leaf on our chest. 

Until then, let’s do everything we can to help each other by staying safe and healthy.