With the Central Division set to kick off play on Friday night as Moose Jaw’s Ethan Peters and the Edmonton Oil Kings host the Lethbridge Hurricanes along with Jaxsen Wiebe and the Red Deer Rebels hosting the Medicine Hat Tigers, the WHL has yet to record a positive test in their intensive monitoring regime.
The league has contracted private PCR testing firm DynaLIFE -- who provided testing for the NHL during their playoff bubble last fall -- to administer tests to all teams throughout the 24-game schedule and in the lead-up to games.
Last week was the third of testing and saw 177 tests administered to Central Division teams, with no players or staff on the aforementioned four squads and the Calgary Hitmen having a positive result. Teams were tested from Feb. 14 through Feb. 26.
To date the WHL has administered 481 tests, beginning on Feb. 6.
The league plans to provide regular updates on COVID-19 testing results, but will not be providing information on individuals.
If a team does record a positive test, an immediate 14-day shutdown for that club will be implemented.
The WHL’s East Division -- including the Moose Jaw Warriors -- opens the regular season in the Regina hub on Mar. 12, with players reporting to Regina for a five-day quarantine beginning this Saturday.
The U.S. Division, including Moose Jaw’s Reece Newkirk and the Portland Winterhawks, opens play on Mar. 19, while negotiations continue for a return-to-play date for the B.C. Division.
