There still is no official start date for training camp and the 2020-21 NHL season, but training facilities and team rinks could start to be populated by players in less than three weeks.
The NHL released a 19-page memo on Thursday detailing its offseason training protocols, which — along with stressing the expected safety protocols in the time of COVID-19 — will welcome small groups of players back on the ice starting October 15th.
The basic parameters of these offseason workouts state that a team must receive advance notice from at least five players that they intend to use the facility for off-season training — with a maximum of 12 persons to be permitted on the ice at any one time.
Most of the measures and protocols mapped out in this release fall in line with the 21-page memo released back in late May that highlighted the measures the league made in order to avoid outbreaks and contamination at team facilities during Phase 2 of the NHL's "Return to Play" plan — which consisted of voluntary on-ice workouts before full team training camp (Phase 3) commenced.
Here are a few highlights from the NHL's plan to allow players to keep the rust off during an offseason that could stretch into December and January:
• While Bruins players currently in Massachusetts likely won't need to face strict quarantine measures, other participants and permitted personnel that need to travel back to Massachusetts or any NHL home city for these offseason workouts "may be required to serve a 14-day self-quarantine imposed by the local or federal health authorities before they may enter the Club facility," according to the memo — which adds: "Even if not imposed by the local health authorities, individuals returning to the Club’s home city by public transportation, including commercial air or rail travel, will normally be required to serve a 14-day self-quarantine period post-travel before engaging in training activities at their Club’s facility."
• As expected, testing will remain an integral part of measures designed to get players and staff back into rinks on a regular basis. “Laboratory-based RT-PCR testing” will be administered to all players and team staff 48 hours prior to any individual returning to team facilities. Clubs will be responsible for making arrangements for and administering these tests prior to the start of offseason workouts "and at least twice weekly thereafter (or more frequently if consistent with medically recommended intervals) throughout the period of the Player’s participation in Off-Season Training," according to the memo. Temperature and symptom checks will also be a daily requirement for all permitted into Warrior Ice Arena during these workouts.
• "Before being permitted to participate in off-season training at the facility, Players shall be screened to determine whether they have previously contracted COVID-19 or whether they are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19," the memo notes. Any player/staff who reports symptoms should self-isolate until receiving confirmation about potential infection.
• There will be no disclosure by an NHL team to the media or to the public of information relating to a positive test result, or to a person developing COVID-19 symptoms during this offseason training session.
• In the event of a positive COVID-19 test for an individual taking part in these workouts, contact tracing will be conducted by the team's medical staff immediately. Any individual that was in contact for 15 minutes or longer at 6 feet or less with the person that tested positive will be tested immediately.
• The following activities will be permitted for those given clearance to take part in offseason workouts:
- “Player-only” non-contact skates.
- Weight training that does not include the need for a spotter
- Circuit-based activities such as resistance training
- Cardiovascular exercises and endurance training
- Rehabilitation and treatment for players with ongoing disabling injuries and for players with non-disabling injuries
• One important thing to note from the memo — which might prompt more players to take part in these sessions: "Players who participate in offseason training and players of the club who are resident in the club city but who are not participating in offseason training are not permitted to work out or skate at any public facility or other location, and may not organize any player skates or group skates outside of the training sessions organized by the club." As such, if players around the Commonwealth need to get some work in, it doesn't look like rinks such as the Foxboro Sports Center are going to be an option.
• The lone exception to the rule above would be if the team gave permission for these workouts outside of the facility — "which permission shall be provided in writing, including, at the Club’s discretion, in circumstances where the Club does not maintain ice during the off-season, and may not organize any player skates or group skates outside of the small group sessions organized by the club."
• Fitness testing of players by clubs will not be permitted during offseason training.
• While 12 players is the maximum amount of bodies allowed on the ice at one time, other players taking part in these voluntary workouts are also allowed in the facility if approved — during which they can work in the weight room and put in other off-ice work before getting a chance to skate later. The maximum number of players permitted in the weight room is six.
• "For the duration of offseason training, Players shall remain in the same small group, so that any infection or exposure that might occur will be contained within that group and in order to facilitate contact tracing."
• While Bruce Cassidy and the B's assistant coaches will not be allowed to take part in these on-ice workouts, players and goaltenders can invite both the team's goalie coach and skills/skating coach to participate during these sessions. These coaches that do receive permission to skate cannot interact with players outside of on-ice instruction, and will not receive access to player dressing rooms.
• There will be set start times for on-ice work, especially if there are multiple groups participating at Warrior and other team facilities. "The schedule must allow for sufficient time between sessions to allow for proper disinfecting of training facilities and equipment, and to ensure that there is no overlap between Players departing and the next group arriving."
• Players will be required to socially distance at least six apart feet in the dressing room. Players will be able to shower after on and off-ice workouts but cannot share towels, toiletries or any personal items.
• Media, player agents, player performance personnel, players' families and the general public will not be granted access to these facilities during offseason training.
• Players from other NHL teams who are residing in Boston during the offseason can request access to Warrior Ice Arena for the purpose of skating and the use of the weight room. The same goes for players residing in other cities, although approval rests in the team who runs said facility.
• "Face coverings (cloth or surgical-type mask) shall be worn – other than while exercising -- when entering or leaving the Club facility and while inside the Club facility where social distancing cannot be maintained." Face coverings will not be required during on-ice work. Players shall avoid car-pooling or taking public transportation to the team facility (this includes ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft).
• Saunas and steam rooms are prohibited during offseason training, although hot and cold tubs may be used — provided social distancing is enforced and the areas are properly disinfected between use. Supplements must be made available for players in single-dispense packs. Players must use water bottles and lids that are permanently marked with their Player number or other means of identification. Clubs can offer pre-packaged meals in individual containers for each player, but cannot prepare larger meals for shared consumption. These pre-packaged meals cannot be consumed at the team facility.
• Washing hands frequently will again be stressed, while hand sanitizer will be available through the facility.
• Much like what was mapped out in Phase 2, this memo stresses that players should still stay at home as much as possible and "avoid unnecessary interactions with non-family members". Players should also not spend time together in close contact unless face coverings are used.