Sudbury Wolves have 12 players with COVID-19, all team activities suspended
The Sudbury Wolves are dealing with a major COVID-19 outbreak, the Ontario Hockey League said Tuesday, forcing the team to suspend activities.
"All players affected are currently asymptomatic or exhibiting mild symptoms and the league and team will continue to monitor their well-being," the OHL said in a news release.
Wolves GM Rob Papineau said the issue emerged Sunday.
“We had one player that had mild symptoms, he had a headache and we ran a rapid test on Sunday," Papineau said.
"It came back positive so we tested the whole team Sunday evening and there were a few other positive tests that came out of that. So we worked with the health unit and they were outstanding.”
Many players didn't have symptoms, while others only have mild cases.
"Some of the guys were shocked when they found out," Papineau said. "The vaccines that our players have had have obviously kept this thing tempered and the guys are in as good as spirits as they can be."
He said the league has been very supportive and has done a great job communicating with them, as have families billeting players.
“We will make sure that all of the billet families get tested, as well," Papineau said. "I think we have the best billet families in the entire Ontario Hockey League -- and maybe in the entire country -- and they really do care about our players and they treat them like their own sons."
The suspension follows the OHL's COVID-19 protocols, which include mandatory vaccination for all members of the OHL community including players, staff, officials and billets.
"The OHL is working in consultation with the league’s independent chief medical officer, while the Wolves continue to follow the guidance of the Sudbury & District Health Unit," the release said.
As a result of the outbreak, several games have been postponed:
- Dec. 1 – Sudbury Wolves at Soo Greyhounds
- Dec. 3 – Barrie Colts at Sudbury Wolves
- Dec. 4 – Sudbury Wolves at Barrie Colts
"The OHL will not be identifying affected individuals, and will provide an update regarding future games along with the rescheduling of above matchups as information becomes available," the league said.
People who had tickets for the affected games can either exchange them when the games are rescheduled, or redeem them at the arena box office (open noon-4 p.m., Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday) for any other remaining regular home game based on available seating.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.