Photo: NHL.com
The NHL announced on Wednesday evening that the Washington Capitals have been fined $100,000 for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols. The violation involved social interactions among team members who were in close contact without wearing masks.
NHL fines Washington Capitals $100,000 for violating COVID Protocols. https://t.co/yuw4d886OL pic.twitter.com/1ZgPbpazwa
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 20, 2021
Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov recently told Russian media outlet Sports-Express that the team received a warning from the league for violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols following the season opener in Buffalo.
“Someone either said or saw that we were sitting in the locker room after the game without masks. Well, news traveled fast and the league found out, instantly … But as an excuse, I will say that we did not deliberately violate, but simply forgot about all the rules. The first game, the first victory, there was no time for masks, emotions overwhelmed,” he said.
Pain does not exist in this dojo.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/xONJnNyZVh
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 15, 2021
It was announced later Wednesday evening that the fine and subsequent additions of Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and Ilya Samsonov to the COVID-19-related absences list stemmed from a recent incident at the team hotel.
The Capitals and Alex Ovechkin would later release a statement regarding the COVID-19 violations.
The Capitals are scheduled to host the Buffalo Sabres on Friday (7 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington). TSN’s Darren Dreger told NBCSN on Wednesday that there are no plans from the NHL to postponed any of the Capitals’ games.
By Harrison Brown
Wow, what a really lame statement. No time for masks because of first game victory and overwhelmed emotions?! Seriously Kuzy? Grow up and realize that we’re very soon gonna reach 1/2 million deaths here from this pandemic so grow up and find time to put your damn masks on 🤬 You won’t be having much fun if your games are cancelled due to COVID on the team, to say nothing of risking the health of everyone in your entire organization 🙁
Oh stop your crying, no one wears a mask diring echl games. Fans allowed, kuzy is the man and can do what the heck he wants too. It is all blown out anyways
It’s location based hazards, not league-based hazards. Don’t be ignorant
If non of the players have Covid than masks don’t really do
much but make a political statement.
Well, given how few people attend ECHL games, there’s probably plenty of room to social distance
Problem #1: Kuzy… Was he not the same person who said he didn’t use cocaine,that was until video came up of him in same room as “others using A white substance”!!
Problem #2: All players identified are Russian,seam like if I was in another country & broke/ bent rules I’d be kicked out or deported!
Funny how Money can cover-up any problem!!
Here are the League’s travel protocols: