The Medicine Hat Tigers announced Sunday that players have returned home to their families due to ongoing concerns in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The news comes three days after the Western Hockey League – along with virtually every major sports body on the planet – opted to suspend the season.
“Our players’ health and safety is imperative,” the Tigers said in a release on Twitter. “With that in mind, the Medicine Hat Tigers have made the decision to send our players home to be with their families.”
Several other teams also announced their players had been sent home Sunday, including the Swift Current Broncos, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Edmonton Oil Kings and Spokane Chiefs.
All this follows the Canadian Hockey League’s announcement from Friday suggesting a hope to continue the Memorial Cup as scheduled, at the end of May in Kelowna.
Complicating things is the issue of American and import players facing the potential of a two-week self-quarantine when returning to their respective clubs in Canada. The Tigers could not confirm Sunday which players had returned home, however a handful do remain in Medicine Hat.
The team is expected to provide more information Tuesday.
