COVID-19 Protocols Force Shutdown Of Henderson Silver Knights vs San Jose Barracuda Preseason Game After Two Periods In Las Vegas Saturday
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
COVID-19 problems have not just shut down the Vegas Golden Knights games Feb. 1 and 3 — they also prompted the cancellation of Saturday’s preseason match between the Henderson Silver Knights and the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League in between the second and third periods at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
“Following COVID Protocols today’s game has been suspended. Further information will be provided when available,” the Henderson Silver Knights tweeted out at 6:58 p.m. Saturday.
At 8:17 p.m., LVSportsBiz.com was told, “The cancellation was not due to a positive COVID test result from HSK players or staff.”
A San Jose Barracuda Tweet said, “Following COVID Protocols today’s game has been suspended. Further information will be provided when available.”
The San Jose club, however, did not issue any statement or tweet like the Silver Knights did about whether a player or staff member tested positive or not.
Both teams left the ice before the start of the third period with the Silver Knights leading, 1-0, after two periods.
There are no fans at Orleans Arena, the temporary home of the Henderson Silver Knights. The Silver Knights are the AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, which bought the former San Antonio franchise and re-branded the club into the Silver Knights.
COVID-19 protocols forced the postponements of three Vegas Golden Knights games — Thursday’s game vs St. Louis at T-Mobile Arena and games against the San Jose Sharks at Arizona’s Gila River Arena Feb. 1 and 3.
Three Golden Knights coaches and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo were on the protocols list this week. On Saturday, Pietrangelo was still on the NHL list of players unavailable to play because of COVID-19 protocols. These players are on the list because they show COVID symptoms, tested positive, or were in close, high-risk contact with someone with COVID.
The Henderson Silver Knights start their regular season at Orleans Arena Friday.
