The Yale Daily News reported yesterday that 18 players for Yale University’s Men’s Hockey Team tested positive for COVID-19 over the past three days. According to the article:
“According to a University-wide email from COVID-19 Coordinator Stephanie Spangler on Thursday afternoon, there have been 12 additional cases among team members. There are now a total of 18 COVID-19 cases stemming from the original cluster — out of the 19 team members currently enrolled and living in New Haven.” –Yale Daily News
The university says that it is making all efforts at contact tracing, directing any people who are identified as close contacts of the infected team members to isolate themselves for two weeks.
This story has developed over the past three or four days as evidenced by a series of tweets from Yale Daily News:
Per an email from Stephanie Spangler, Yale has recorded an additional 12 cases among members of the men’s hockey team, bringing the total to 18.
— Yale Daily News (@yaledailynews) October 15, 2020
In case you missed it: After over three weeks of limited in-person athletic activity in Phases I and II, Yale Athletics is reverting to Phase 0 until at least Oct. 21 after six members of the Yale men’s hockey team tested positive for COVID-19.https://t.co/jx22axUiQa
— YDN Sports (@YDNsports) October 14, 2020
“We understand [the decision to return to Phase 0] completely,” men’s hockey captain Phil Kemp ‘21 said. “A lot of us volunteered to go into the isolation pods right away to get the virus under control.”
Phase 0 will last until at least Oct. 21.https://t.co/QIOMsyjord
— Yale Daily News (@yaledailynews) October 14, 2020
MEN’S HOCKEY: As Phase II begins for Yale’s athletic teams, the Bulldogs are getting back to the rink with longer practices and hopes of a conference season.https://t.co/i5qimGpMGv
— YDN Sports (@YDNsports) October 13, 2020
Athletic facilities at Yale, including Ingalls Rink, Payne Whitney Gymnasium, and the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center, have been closed for cleaning until Oct. 19.
It’s hard to imagine that this development will not impact the discussion of when to restart the ECAC Hockey League and NCAA Division I Hockey in general.
Come back to RinkAtlas for more coverage of COVID-19 and the impact on ice hockey and indoor arenas in North America.