Per several reports, the NHL has extended its self-quarantining period through April 15.
This is the second time the NHL has extended its self-isolation date since originally giving guidance to stay at home through March 27. Last week they extended it to April 4 and now they have pushed it 11 days later.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan held a conference call with media this morning to speak about how things have been since the NHL season was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. MacLellan is currently at home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to be closer to his two daughters and grandchildren. “We’re spending time with them and trying to get through it together,” MacLellan said.
“It’s amazing how your life just comes to a halt,” he said. “All the things you do day-to-day doesn’t matter anymore and there’s a big picture, there’s a reality going on and all the little things you’re concerned about on a daily basis don’t really matter much anymore. All of a sudden you have time, you’re doing stuff around the house. You’re [talking] to family more. You’re doing more family things. It’s a change in lifestyle and it’s a change in priorities.”
If the NHL does return to play in the next few months, MacLellan wasn’t sure what will be possible, but he did have a strong opinion on how to fairly and legitimately complete to the regular season.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, NASCAR has postponed all its races in the coming weeks. But unlike the other major sports, NASCAR has been able to weather the storm better than others due to iRacing – an online video game. Unlike in NHL simulation games, real-life NASCAR drivers are driving and shifting their digital cars from home, making the races just as exciting and, at times, ridiculous.
Last Sunday, NASCAR raced at the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway and it was nationally broadcast on FS1. All of the superstar drivers in the sport participated — such as Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex, Jr, Jimmy Johnson, Matt DiBenedetto, and Chase Elliott — while Jeff Gordon, Mike Joy, and Larry McReynolds provided commentary. Clint Bowyer also provided hilarious “in-car” analysis.
Denny Hamlin won the race (from his “rig” reportedly costing tens of thousands of dollars) in a photo finish, narrowly beating Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who came out of “retirement” to participate. According to CNET, FOX Sports said the first race was the most-watched esports event broadcast on television with 903,000 viewers. So many people watched that FOX will air the entire eNASCAR iRacing Pro invitational Series over the next month and a half.
Moving forward, RMNB will be sponsoring NASCAR driver Ryan Ellis as he tries to race into Sunday’s virtual race at Texas (1 PM, FOX & FS1) and throughout the rest of the tour. Ellis, a big Capitals fan and RMNB reader, grew up in Ashburn, VA and played on George Mason’s hockey team.
Hockey’s gone and many hockey fans are stuck at home. But sports are on pause doesn’t mean sports fans have done the same!
Friend of the blog Jenn P, woke up to find her son Troy had decorated the family’s kitchen cabinets with an array of hockey sticks. Inspired by her tweet, we decided to ask what else y’all have been up to.
By Brennin Weiswerda 3 days ago
To stop the spread of COVID-10, staying inside is crucial. But if you do venture out to either grab food or exercise, practicing proper social distancing is key.
In Canada, the city of Toronto leaned on its country’s most popular sport to explain how to have “good physical distancing.”
The Colorado Avalanche announced on Saturday that a second of their players tested positive for COVID-19. It’s the fourth NHL player to end up contracting the virus.
“The Colorado Avalanche were advised late last night that a second player has tested positive for COVID-19,” the Avs said in a statement. “The player is in self-isolation. All other Avalanche players, staff and others who might have had close contact with the player have been informed and remain isolated.”
We don’t have any hockey to distract us right now, so here are some ideas from us at RMNB on how you might spend your time in lockdown.
In today’s episode: the end of civilization as we know it… but fun!
By Peter Hassett 4 days ago
A day after hockey equipment manufacturer Bauer announced it was creating face shields for medical professionals, the MLB and its official retailer, Fanatics, are partnering to create masks and hospital gowns for doctors and nurses during the coronavirus pandemic.
According to MLB.com, Fanatics has halted production of Major League Baseball jerseys at its 360,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Easton, Pennsylvania, and are instead creating up to one million masks and gowns.
The initial masks are made with pinstripes from Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees jerseys.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was one of four NHL players who participated in a Zoom teleconference on Thursday with the NHL season paused due to the coronavirus pandemic. The conversation was led by the NHL’s vice president of communications John Dellapina and the other players involved were the New Jersey Devils’ PK Subban, the New York Islanders’ Anders Lee, and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Nick Foligno. Reporters submitted questions in the morning.
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the 2019-20 season is if the season will resume. Going on the assumption that it does, Dellapina asked Ovechkin if he’d want to play more regular-season games or just skip the final 13 games and begin the playoffs.
With the Capitals in first place in the Metropolitan Division, Ovi was fine just going right to the playoffs.
“Sorry, guys,” Ovi said laughing.
The Colorado Avalanche announced on Thursday that one of their players tested positive for COVID-19. It’s the third NHL player to end up contracting the virus.
“The player has been at home in isolation since the first symptoms appeared, has recovered and is back to normal,” the Avs said in a statement. “The Avalanche have notified anyone who has had known close contact with the athlete.”
