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New York Rangers: NBA suspends season, is the NHL next?

By Steve Paulus

ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - MARCH 11: Empty stands of the stadium as only security personnel were admitted during a match between Olimpia and Defensa y Justicia as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Tigo Manuel Ferreira Stadium on March 11, 2020 in Asuncion, Paraguay. Paraguayan government determined by presidential decree 3442 on Monday 9th that all massive events must go behind closed doors due to the outbreak of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Luis Vera/Getty Images)
ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - MARCH 11: Empty stands of the stadium as only security personnel were admitted during a match between Olimpia and Defensa y Justicia as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores at Tigo Manuel Ferreira Stadium on March 11, 2020 in Asuncion, Paraguay. Paraguayan government determined by presidential decree 3442 on Monday 9th that all massive events must go behind closed doors due to the outbreak of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Luis Vera/Getty Images) /
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An empty arena in Paraguay. (Photo by Luis Vera/Getty Images) /

The NBA has offically suspended their season because of the Coronavirus.  What does this mean for the New York Rangers and the NHL?

As the New York Rangers were on the ice at the Pepsi Center in Denver, the NBA announced that they were suspending the season and will use the hiatus to determine how to proceed with the pandemic COVID-19.  That came on the heels of two members of the Utah Jazz coming down with an undisclosed illness and one player testing positive, the President suspending all travel from Europe for 30 days and the NCAA announcing that March Madness will be played with no fans and limited attendance in the arenas.

Earlier in the day, the San Jose Sharks announced that they would be playing their home games without fans to observe local governmental regulations.   The first NHL game without fans willbe tomorrow in Columbus as the Blue Jackets take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Ohio has banned mass gatherings, resulting in the first NHL game to be played in an empty arena.

While there has been no official announcement, the IIHF U18 World Junior Championships to be held in April in Michigan are in jeopardy as are the World Championships scheduled for late April in Switzerland.

Teams are following local guidance when it comes to attendance at their games. New York City has not made any recommendations.  The New York City Half Marathon scheduled for this weekend was cancelled yesterday, but the City is continuing with plans for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade next week.   New  York City Mayor Bill De Blasio has been adamant in his belief that widespread closings and cancellations will have a dire effect on the City and its economy.

In his address to the nation, President Trump made no recommendations about public events, though the top health officials in the United States have said that public gatherings are not a great idea.

The only steps taken by the Rangers has been a limitation on access to the locker room.  Now, all player interviews are conducted in a press conference setting after the game.  Last night after the Dallas game, it was Jesper Fast, Adam Fox and Kaapo Kakko who were made available for questions.  There has been no word on whether there will be any other restrictions.

No matter what happens this promises to be the oddest finish to a  hockey season with a chance of suspension of the season or an entire Stanley Cup Playoffs to be played in empty arenas to a television audience.

More. A night to play catch up. light

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