Photo: Salavat Yulaev Ufa
The head coach of Salavat Yulaev Ufa, Tomi Lamsa, and two of the team’s players – Markus Granlund and Danil Bashkirov – have tested positive for COVID-19. You may recall that Washington Capitals’ defensive prospect Alex Alexeyev was loaned to Salavat Yulaev on September 3. Alexeyev has played in Salavat’s last three games, including games during a recent road trip to Moscow and Kazan.
Salavat Yulaev Ufa’s general directer released an official statement on Tuesday, which was posted to the team’s website:
“After a trip to Kazan and Moscow, the entire team and staff of Salavat Yulaev underwent routine tests for coronavirus infection. As a result, the head coach of Yulaevites Tomi Lamsa, and strikers (forwards) Markus Granlund and Danil Bashkirov were tested for additional research to confirm the (positive) diagnosis. The health of all is normal, no symptoms are observed. Lamsa, Granlund and Bashkirov are now isolated. The coaching staff, which is temporarily headed by Viktor Kozlov, continues to work on preparations for the match with Sochi.”
Alexeyev and Salavat Yulaev faced HC Sochi later on Tuesday, losing 3-2.
The KHL started it’s regular season at the beginning of September. After three weeks of play, two full teams are now in quarantine due to COVID-19 outbreaks. In addition, several games have been postponed and a number of players and staff have also tested positive for COVID-19.
After the Salavat game on Tuesday, acting head coach and former Washington Capitals forward Viktor Kozlov was asked about a video circulating on social media which shows one of the Salavat players in a nightclub. “Work is underway with the guys so that they do not visit club places. We figured out about the video, we won’t take anything out of the team, “said Kozlov.
In other KHL COIVD-19 related news on Tuesday, it was reported that 30 players from the Lokomotiv team have tested positive.
This is not going away: About thirty (!) players of KHL Lokomotiv Yaroslavl passed positive coronavirus tests, a source close to the situation told RIA Novosti. They are scheduled to play tonight. https://t.co/88YRmyIswG
— Szymon Szemberg (@Sz1909_Szemberg) September 22, 2020
By Jon Sorensen
It’s a story like this makes me believe that NHL’s “no + cases” releases are pure fiction! We will never get truth from the PR machine!
I get what you’re saying. No positives in 30,000 tests is incredible. As for KHL, they are operating without a bubble and fans in the stands, which may or may not actually work in the end.