Flyers: Travis Sanheim added to NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list
By Matthew C
The Philadelphia Flyers are the latest team to have a player placed on the National Hockey League’s COVID-19 Protocol list. Travis Sanheim was added to the list on Sunday after he was scratched from the game and did not appear on the bench.
The team initially did not disclose the reason he was scratched from Sunday’s win over Washington per standard procedure. The NHL released Sunday’s COVID-19 protocol list hours after the game which showed Travis Sanheim on the list.
Being placed on the list doesn’t necessarily mean Sanheim tested positive for COVID – he could be a close contact to someone who actually did. Regardless, it’s a very serious and fluid situation that needs to be monitored very closely in the coming days.
The National Hockey League released the following statement regarding Travis Sanheim and the Philadelphia Flyers:
— Broad Street Buzz (@BroadStreetBuzz) February 7, 2021
The league said Flyers players, coaches, and staff received rapid COVID-19 tests that would immediately produce results before going to the arena. Following consultation with medical experts and negative tests, the game was played as scheduled.
Flyers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chuck Fletcher tested positive for the virus in January and isolated immediately. Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere began the season on the COVID-19 protocol list after he did test positive for the virus, but has since made a full recovery.
It can take quite some time for individuals who have been exposed to the coronavirus to produce a positive test. It’s unclear if Travis Sanheim being added to the list will have any repercussions in terms of the Flyers’ activities.
The team is still scheduled to practice in Washington D.C. tomorrow on their off-day, and that was already scheduled after Sanheim’s addition to the test.
Hopefully, this was an isolated issue and the Flyers or anybody else don’t see any complications for the sake of everyone’s health.