Canadian and Russian women's hockey players wear masks to play following lengthy delay of Winter Olympics group game
Even during an Olympics with extreme COVID-19 protocols, it was a bizarre look for Canadian and Russian women’s hockey players. Both teams took the ice Monday wearing KN95 masks underneath their hockey masks.
The start of the preliminary group game was delayed by more than an hour because the Canadian team did not receive a report on Russia’s COVID testing status and didn’t want to take the ice until that happened, according to Toronto Sun reporter Rob Longley.
The Associated Press reported that the IOC told the IIHF, the international hockey federation, that players were required to wear masks due to “safety and security reasons.”
The Russian players returned for the third period without their masks, though the Canadians kept theirs on.
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The IIHF did not provide a ton of details about the entire situation after the game, saying that the game was delayed "with a view to ensure full understanding of the teams about the health and safety measures in place."
"Out of caution and concern for health and safety of the players, the IIHF agreed with the participating teams to play the games with masks on," the federation added.
The IIHF would like to provide an explanation to today's delay of the @russiahockey vs @HockeyCanada game: pic.twitter.com/iepr7rENqD
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 7, 2022
Russia has been hit by COVID issues during these Games, with several hockey players quarantined after testing positive. They were in isolation in the Olympic Village from Monday to Wednesday but still won their opening game against Switzerland.
“We came to the Olympics and we had to sit in our rooms without the opportunity to practice,” said Russian forward Alexandra Vafina after the Switzerland game. “It was hard but we got all together, we stayed positive and we took this little opportunity that we had.”
Athletes needed to have two negative coronavirus tests before arriving in Beijing, including one within 72 hours of departure. They are tested every day, and a “closed loop” system that prohibits contact with any non-Games personnel is designed to stem outbreaks.
Contributing: Jace Evans
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada vs. Russia Olympic hockey game delayed; players wear masks
