With the NHL’s resumption of play on the horizon, the federal government is making moves to try to help one of three Canadian markets become a hub for the league.
The Canadian government has issued an order in council that would allow either Vancouver, Edmonton or Toronto to serve as one of the National Hockey League’s two hub cities amid COVID-19.
Though the order has been issued, it is still awaiting the Governor General’s signature.
Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship has presented a letter saying it is of national interest to have a Canadian hub.
This is largely due to the Public Health Agency of Canada and the public health authorities in Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver all giving their approval of the NHL’s plan to keep players separate from the general public.
This would be deemed a ‘cohort quarantine’, meaning the move would allow the NHL to bypass the standard 14-day quarantine for anyone entering Canada.
The NHL had to present a plan that met public health requirements for Canada before the government proceeded with the order.
Along with the three Canadian cities still in the running, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Minneapolis/St. Paul are also still listed as potential hub cities.
The NHL plans to start training camps for the 24 remaining teams on July 10 and hopes to resume play later in the summer.
Recently, B.C. Premier John Horgan announced that Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has approved Vancouver as a hub city for the NHL.
The Premier says he has written to the Prime Minister stating that Vancouver and the B.C. overall would welcome the National Hockey League, if chosen as a hub city.
