Canadiens Extend Pause Of Activity Until Saturday

“The Montreal Canadiens announced on Thursday an extended pause of activities as a preventive measure through January 8 inclusively. This measure also applies to the Laval Rocket’s operations at Place Bell. The organization has followed and will continue to follow, all recommendations regarding the health and safety of its players, staff, and the community, as put in place by the NHL as well as local authorities.

Note that the NHL has already postponed the Canadiens’ home games on January 4, 6, 8, 10, and 15 at the Bell Centre. The team’s next game is scheduled for January 12 in Boston.

Rocket games scheduled for January 7 and 8 at Place Bell are also postponed.

The Canadiens’ next practice will be held on Sunday, January 9 at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard. The Rocket will also practice on Sunday at Place Bell.”

Montreal Canadiens forwards Cameron Hillis and Michael Pezzetta were placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list on Wednesday. The Habs now have a league-high, 22 club members in COVID Protocol. Here is an updated list of Canadiens players and staff on COVID Protocol that seems to be growing at an almost daily pace:

Artturi Lehkonen (Dec. 18), Laurent Dauphin (Dec. 19), Mike Hoffman (Dec. 20), Tyler Toffoli (Dec. 27), Jake Allen (Dec. 27), Ben Chiarot (Dec. 27), Joel Edmundson (Dec. 27), Jeff Petry (Dec. 27), Chris Wideman (Dec. 27), goalie coach Eric Raymond (Dec. 27), Paul Byron (Dec. 29), Cayden Primeau (Dec. 29), Louie Belpedio (Dec. 30), Gianni Fairbrother (Dec. 30), Brandon Baddock (Dec. 31), Jake Evans (Jan. 1), Alexander Romanov (Jan. 1), Rafaël Harvey-Pinard (Jan. 4), Jesse Ylönen (Jan. 4), David Savard (Jan. 4), Samuel Montembeault (Jan. 4), Trevor Letowski (assistant coach, Jan. 4), Cameron Hillis (Jan. 5), Michael Pezzetta (Jan. 5)