Three Vancouver Giants Among 36 Players and WHL Team Personnel Added to League’s COVID-19 Protocol List

There are no league plans to change the schedule; Vancouver resumes regular season action tonight by hosting the Victoria Royals at Langley Events Center

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The Western Hockey League announced Monday afternoon that 36 hockey players and operations personnel from across the league had been added to the league’s COVID-19 protocol roster, including three members of the Vancouver Giants.

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The Giants face the Victoria Royals tonight (7pm, Sportsnet 650) at the Langley Events Center in their first game back from the holidays. They haven’t played a game since Dec. 19, when they lost 6-5 to the Tri-City Americans. Vancouver is in Victoria on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

In accordance with league policy, the WHL will not provide comments or identify interested individuals.

Seventeen of the 20 teams that have received results have players or staff on the protocol list. The Royals (4) and Spokane Chiefs (4) have more. Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings and Prince Albert Raiders do not have a player on protocol. The league is awaiting results from the Kamloops Blazers and Prince George Cougars.

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All 36 players and staff showed COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test before re-entering the club’s premises, according to a league press release.

Per WHL protocols, all individuals must complete a PCR test to confirm the positive antigen rapid test result. Players or hockey operations staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 may not resume team activities or come into close contact with their teammates or club staff until they have tested negative or have completed the required isolation period.

The league has no plans to change the schedule at this time. The WHL requires that all players on the roster, hockey operations personnel, and other team and league office personnel be fully vaccinated.