Photo: Jonathan Kozub/Getty Images
The Montreal Canadiens announced prior to Game 3 of their Stanley Cup Semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights at Bell Centre on Friday night (8 PM ET, USA Network) that head coach Dominique Ducharme has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss at least the next 10 days. GM Marc Bergevin told the media prior to Game 3 that Ducharme is doing “fine.”
Assistant Luke Richardson will run the bench with fellow assistants Alex Burrows and Sean Burke, according to Bergevin. He added that the team is currently in contact with Quebec Health and NHL to determine how long Ducharme will be absent.
NHL statement on COVID-19 test results for @CanadiensMTL: https://t.co/QhsE77ZG5o pic.twitter.com/Rk70FUx8Qm
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 18, 2021
Ducharme, who took over on an interim basis midseason after the Canadiens fired Claude Julien on February 24, was not present during the team’s morning skate due to irregularities in his COVID-19 test.
Friday’s Game 3 will mark the first game featuring a United States-based club north of the border this season.
The Canadiens have won eight of their past nine games and the series is currently tied 1-1.
The last possible day of the Stanley Cup Semifinals is on Saturday, June 26.
The Bell Centre will have 3,500 fans in attendance starting with Game 3. They have allowed 2,500 for each of the Canadiens’ past three home games and were the first Canadian NHL arena to allow fans this season.
Awaiting official word, but it’s believed Ducharme has tested positive for CoVid and will be sidelined at least 10 days.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 18, 2021
By Harrison Brown
