The Vancouver Canucks said Monday that a potential COVID-19 exposure that halted the team’s training camp over the weekend was a false positive.
Head coach Travis Green said the team chose to suspend practices and workouts Sunday while they waited to confirm a player’s positive test result, which later came back negative.
Green did not disclose which player received the false positive.
“At the time we didn’t know if it was a false positive or not, and we wanted to take the right precautions,” he said at a media press conference.
“We just felt it was best to stay off the ice and wait and see.”
Training resumed earlier Monday after the team was given the all-clear.
Green said players and staff are tested every day upon arriving at Rogers Arena, a practice that will continue through the season once it starts this week.
The suspension of practice came just days before the club’s season opener against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.
Team captain Bo Horvat called the incident a “wake-up call” for the team to ensure they continue following health protocols as the season approaches.
“I’m glad this happened to give everyone a wake-up call now and not later on” once the season was underway, he said.
Under the NHL’s COVID-19 plan, the Canucks will play all 56 games of their shortened season in an all-Canadian division.
The club is scheduled to play its first home game in Vancouver against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 20.
Comments