NHL suspends season due to coronavirus outbreak

The NHL will suspend the 2019-2020 season in response to the coronavirus outbreak, following similar decisions by the NBA and MLS.

“We will continue to monitor all the appropriate medical advice, and we will encourage our players and other members of the NHL community to take all reasonable precautions—including by self-quarantine, where appropriate,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.

“Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy,” he added.

The @NHL pauses 2019-20 season. https://t.co/WMePei4clH pic.twitter.com/W5Hqmk3kX7

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 12, 2020

The league previously failed to award the Stanley Cup in the 1918-1919 season due to the Spanish flu, one of only two occasions where the cup was not awarded, with the other, in the 2004-2005 season, due to a yearlong lockout.

The announcement comes the day after the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus. Gobert’s teammate Donovan Mitchell has since also tested positive.