Riga, January 10, LETA. The return of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) team to the Riga “Dinamo” field in less than two weeks is unlikely, the club’s general manager Edgars Buncis admitted in a conversation with the agency LETA.
It has already been reported that 17 Covid-19 cases were detected in Riga’s “Dinamo” on Sunday, due to which the unit’s next three games were canceled. Three more cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours.
Buncis noted that the team is currently in self-isolation and all members of the unit are monitoring their health. The club also cooperates with the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC).
Some of the Latvian hockey players playing in the team are among the potential participants of the Beijing Olympic Games tournament. The tournament will take place in the Chinese capital from February 9 to 20.
“We are communicating with both the Latvian Hockey Federation and Harijs Vītoliņš. Of course, in this situation we also take into account the interests of the national team,” said Buncis.
For the time being, the next game for the Riga team is planned to be played against Chelyabinsk’s “Traktor” on January 19, but Buncis refused to predict a certain date when the unit could return to the field.
“January 19 is the date on which contacts must pass a test to make sure no one is sick. It is also the date when those who were infected can leave self-isolation with no symptoms. I think January 19 is quite unrealistic date, “admitted Buncis.
There is only one KHL regular championship game left between this game and the Beijing Olympic Games, which is scheduled to take place on January 23 against Minsk Dynamo. KHL will have a meeting with the club tomorrow and will discuss further scenarios for the tournament.
In order to prevent further spread to KHL, the league management has decided to cancel the next three games – on January 12 at home against Minsk “Dinamo”, and on January 15 and 17 away against Magnitogorsk “Metallurg” and Ekaterinburg “Avtomobilist”.
The last two “Dinamo” games have also been canceled in the ranks of Covid-19. The last time the Rigans left the square was on January 5, when they lost Ufa’s “Salavat Julayev” 4: 6.
In the tournament table, Riga “Dinamo” is in the last – 12th place in the Western group with 37 points in 45 games.
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