Florida Panthers reopen practice facility as part of ‘Phase 2’ in NHL restart plan
After going nearly three months without skating, some members of the Florida Panthers could finally return to the ice Wednesday. The Florida Panthers IceDen, Florida’s practice facility in Coral Springs, finally reopened Wednesday for small group workouts as the NHL begins slowly ramping up to resume the season this summer.
It’s part of Phase 2 of the NHL’s return-to-play plan, which began earlier this week. On Monday, the NHL formally began the phase, which allowed teams to reopen practice facilities for small, voluntary group workouts with considerations made to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Several teams — including the New York Islanders, whom the Panthers will face in the qualifying round when the season resumes — reopened Monday. Florida waited until Wednesday, a team spokesperson said, before reopening the rink to to its players.
At least half of the Panthers’ roster is back in South Florida, general manager Dale Tallon said last month, and the team likely has about a month until Phase 3, the start of formal training camps, begins. Phase 3 isn’t expected to begin until early July, and the season isn’t expected to resume until later in the month.
Phase 2 puts a series of restrictions on these workouts. Teams are limited to a maximum of six players in the facility at a time with a limited number of team staff, and no coaches can be on the ice with players. When they’re in the facilities, players must wear facial coverings whenever they’re not on the ice or working out. Players are also required to take a COVID-19 test before returning and they will be tested twice a week. Additionally, players have been told to self-conduct daily temperature checks and symptom checks, which the teams will log.
The Panthers are now the third major professional sports team in the region to return to some sort of workouts. The Miami Heat regained access to its facility in May, while Inter Miami resumed workouts Thursday. The Miami Hurricanes also returned to their football facilities last week.
