The Prince Albert Raiders are playing the waiting game as COVID-19 has brought the WHL season to a halt. (City of Prince Albert)

By Trevor Redden

Idle Raiders

Raiders using precaution, patience as league hits pause

Mar 13, 2020 | 2:57 PM

With the Western Hockey League season on hold due to COVID-19, the Prince Albert Raiders are patiently waiting.

On Thursday, following the suspension of the National Hockey League along with virtually every other major sports organization in North America, the Canadian Hockey League pressed pause as well.

For the Raiders, that meant halting preparation for a home-and-home set of games against the Moose Jaw Warriors and focusing on the safety of players, staff, and all other members of the organization.

Instead of practicing at the Art Hauser Centre during the afternoon as usual, the team gathered for a quick briefing according to General Manager Curtis Hunt.

“We had our doctor come in and speak from a medical professional point of view, we actually had our billets as part of that,” Hunt said, adding that they met in a large room allowing those in attendance to spread out as a precaution.

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As of Thursday, Hunt said no players or staff were showing any symptoms. Players have been advised to mostly stay at their billet homes and not gather in large groups to mitigate any further risk. Each player will be individually monitored.

Hunt re-enforced the message from the club’s statement on Thursday, saying the league’s decision to pause the season was unequivocally correct.

“When we stop and think about the ramifications, I think it’s prudent, I think it’s responsible,” he said.

“I think it’s the right thing to do if we can take some time here, not put anybody at risk, evaluate the situation at a little more length, and hopefully continue to make some good decisions for everyone’s safety.”

The league is expected to provide a further update to teams on Tuesday, until that point the Raiders will continue to monitor their own situation on a day-by-day basis.

“Our governors are meeting throughout the weekend, the league is dealing with health professionals in the field, and we’ll wait until Tuesday like everybody else and see where it all goes,” Hunt said.

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Raiders entered the weekend in first place in the East Division, with a chance to potentially clinch the division title in the coming games.

Opening night of the 2020 WHL Playoffs had been scheduled for Friday, Mar. 27.

No decision has been made regarding the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.

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trevor.redden@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Trevor_Redden