NHL Phase 2
The National Hockey League hopes to open practice facilities for small group workouts in the mid-to-late May,
In a memo from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, he says ‘Phase 2’ will be subject to potential competitive concerns as between different markets
In some NHL centres, COVID-19 restrictions have been eased, while other locations are still under lockdown conditions.
Any plan to resume activity would need to be approved by the NHL Players' Association.
In yesterday's memo, the NHL advised players who are currently sheltering outside of their team’s city that they should consider whether to plan to return to their club cities, noting that they may face a mandatory 14-day quarantine once they arrive.
Travel may prove most difficult. The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to non-essential travel.
Air Canada does not have any flights scheduled to cross the border through May 22.
Frontenacs Fire Foster
The Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League dismissed head coach Kurtis Foster yesterday.
Kingston General Manager Darren Keily says the Frontenacs goal is to hire a coach with a great deal of experience, with a pro mentality who has previously worked with junior or college players.
Foster, a former NHL'er, won 33 games over 2 years at Kingston.
He took over a Frontenacs club after the club had sold off significant assets to make a run in 2018.
Last year, Kingston won just once in their first 19 games before they rallied under Foster and moved into a playoff position by the time the regular season was halted March 12th
NBA At Disney World
The National Basketball Association is reportedly considering finishing their season at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
In addition to Disney World, the NBA also has other scenarios in mind to resume play amid the COVID-19 pandemic,
Previously the league considered finishing out the 2020 season in Las Vegas.
The NBA halted their season on March 11th as Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the carnivorous.
Goodell Pay Cut
National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has reduced his salary to $0.
Goodell, who makes upward of $30 million a year from salaries and bonuses, voluntarily had his salary reduced although the NFL has not announced the move publicly.
In a memo sent to league office staffers, Goodell also said no employee earning a base salary of less than $100,000 will be affected by the reductions, and no employee’s salary will be reduced below $100,000 by the reductions.
CFL Update
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is in discussions with the Canadian Football League, which is seeking financial support to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CFL approached the Federal Government with a 3 level request for as much as $ 150 million should the 2020 season be cancelled
Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said the long-term future of the CFL would be in peril if the season was wiped out.
Soccer Seeks Support
The Canadian Premier Soccer League has joined the Canadian Football League in asking the federal government for financial assistance.
The 8-team league asked Ottawa for “short-term financing” of $15 million,
The CPL was set to start its second season on April 11th
Baseball Hall Cancels Induction Ceremony
Canadian Larry Walker had 17 productive seasons in Major League Baseball and had been retired for almost 15 years before finally being selected for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Walker will have to wait at least another year for his official induction as the Baseball Hall of Fame cancelled the July 26th induction ceremony at Cooperstown
Longtime New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter is also among the Class of 2020 who are now scheduled to be inducted on July 25th, 2021
Jays Ticket Rebates
Major League Baseball told their clubs they could decide their own ticket refund policies,
The Toronto Blue Jays opened access to refunds or account credits on all their home dates from opening day through May 31st essentially erasing the first two months of the 2020 season
Spring training was suspended on March 12th
A revised MLB schedule has not been announced.