The National Hockey League will begin its regular season January 13th, but it will be a dramatically reorganized league and schedule for teams in an effort to reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus, CBS Sports reports.
After finishing up last season playing games in two “bubble cities,” the NHL will take a new approach, the league will allow teams to host games in their home cities. Fans will be allowed to attend games based on each city’s regulations.
The league itself, however, will be realigned to limit travel and to address the unique composition of the league. The seven Canadian-based teams will be put into one division; the 24 US-based teams will be split into three divisions based on geography. Each team will play a 56-game season against only teams in their division, thereby negating the need for teams to cross the US-Canadian border.
Teams will play two- or three-game series against a single opponent in one city, with at least one day between games against different teams. There will be no inter-team preseason games.
Traveling teams will not be allowed out of their hotels during the trip, nor will players and coaches be able to patronize the hotel’s bar or restaurant. All activities while traveling will be done through team-arranged and league-approved facilities.
The issue of bringing players up from the minor leagues has not been addressed, but the NHL will make additional regulations public in the next week.