NHL officially suspends season due to coronavirus pandemic

The NHL has decided to suspend play immediately, due to ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus, following a call with the league’s Board of Governors today.

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,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement.

“The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures. However, following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus – and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point – it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.

“We will continue to monitor all the appropriate medical advice, and we will encourage our players and other members of the NHL community to take all reasonable precautions – including by self-quarantine, where appropriate. Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy.”

The league previously canceled practices and team meetings this morning, in anticipation of this decision.

This follows the lead of the NBA, which suspended its season following one of its players testing positive for COVID-19, and the declaration of an attendance ban for all fans at the upcoming NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.

Ten games were scheduled in the NHL tonight, which will not go ahead as planned.

More to come.