The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons (yes, the hot dog guy) is reporting that Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has tested positive for COVID-19.
The news comes on the same day that the Tampa Bay Lightning had to shutter their practice facility due to five players and staff members having positive tests as well.
POSTMEDIA EXCLUSIVE: Auston Matthews has tested positive for COVID-19. My breaking story: https://t.co/oEAABdUlTU
— steve simmons (@simmonssteve) June 19, 2020
Simmons writes that the 22-year-old forward is in quarantine at his Arizona home and is “hoping to be healthy enough and eligible to travel to Toronto” to participate in Leafs’ training camp on July 10.
Sources tell Simmons that goaltender Frederik Anderson, who has stayed with Matthews in Scottsdale, did not test positive and he is no longer in Arizona.
The Leafs didn’t deny the report in a statement.
The full text reads:
Per the National Hockey League protocol with respect to COVID-19, the Toronto Maple Leafs will not be commenting on reports surrounding testing for any of the Club’s players or staff. A person’s medical information in this regard is private. The Club will defer to the NHL’s policy on handling the disclosure of positive test results, in that the League will provide updates on a regular basis with aggregate totals of the number of tests conducted and number of positive tests reported without disclosing either the identities of affected Clubs or Players.
And now, let’s go to Steve Dangle for his reaction.
Ah,
— Steve "Dangle" Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) June 19, 2020
