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
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.