The Kelowna Rockets have been forced to shut down team activities for two weeks after six more people in the team’s cohort tested positive for COVID-19.
The Western Hockey League says four players and two staff members tested positive today taking the total to seven cases after one other team staff member also tested positive for the virus yesterday.
In all, 10 WHL regular season games have been postponed between yesterday (March 30) and April 15, nine involving the Kelowna Rockets. Kelowna was scheduled to play the Kamloops Blazers three times in that stretch, including last night.
The WHL has also postponed tonight’s game in Kamloops between the Vancouver Giants and the Prince George Cougars “out of an abundance of caution.” The Giants beat the Rockets 6-0 on Sunday, in a game played at Sandman Centre.
According to the league, after Tuesday’s initial positive case, all Rockets players and staff were isolated and tested while close contacts were told to self-quarantine for two weeks.
All other B.C. Division teams in the Kamloops and Kelowna hub were tested, and the league says all of those test results came back negative.
“The WHL or Kelowna Rockets will not be providing any further comment at this time,” the statement added. “The WHL will continue to work in consultation with B.C. Health Authorities on when it is safe for the Kelowna Rockets to resume team activities.”
Details on when those postponed games will be rescheduled or if other games will be postponed will be made at a later date.