Coffee, pillows, musical instruments, golf clubs, family photos and a lot of video game gear accompany NHL players as they head into relative isolation.
The 24 teams playing for the Stanley Cup arrived Sunday in the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton.
Players armed themselves for a potentially lengthy stay with a few of their favourite things.
Exhibition games starting Tuesday in both cities are warmups to the qualifying round starting Aug. 1.
Unless the COVID-19 pandemic derails completion of the 2019-20 NHL season, teams that win will continue towards a Stanley Cup final that could go as late as Oct. 4 in Edmonton.
When they害羞草研究所檙e not on the ice, the players will spend a lot of time in their hotels. In order to prevent contagion, they害羞草研究所檙e under NHL orders not to mix with the public.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 going to be a lot of card playing and hanging out around the two levels, or two floors that we have,害羞草研究所� Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins predicted.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin intended to bring some golf clubs.
害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檒l find me putting in the hallway,害羞草研究所� he said.
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Flames centre Mikael Backlund can害羞草研究所檛 live without his favourite coffee and the machine to brew it.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important to me to have my Swedish coffee,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l bring my pillow because you never know what the pillows are in the hotels,害羞草研究所� Backlund continued. 害羞草研究所淚 need to make sure my pillow is good because that害羞草研究所檚 one thing I害羞草研究所檓 picky about.
害羞草研究所淏ring a lot of books and my iPad and maybe some treatment things that will help my body recover.害羞草研究所�
Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby is bringing his trusty, travel guitar, to entertain teammates.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 about me playing, it害羞草研究所檚 whether they like listening or not,害羞草研究所� the goalie said.
Leafs defenceman Justin Holl already regrets leaving his keyboard behind.
害羞草研究所淚 actually didn害羞草研究所檛 bring it back because it was too unwieldy,害羞草研究所� Holl lamented. 害羞草研究所淏ut it was a bad plan on my part. Now I wish I had have brought it because I害羞草研究所檓 going to want it.害羞草研究所�
Nugent-Hopkins would bring his golden retriever if he could.
害羞草研究所淚 wish I could bring Sophie in, but I don害羞草研究所檛 think that害羞草研究所檚 allowed,害羞草研究所� the Oiler said.
Toronto winger Kyle Clifford insists on bringing a fan because he needs white noise to sleep.
For Leafs captain John Tavares, it害羞草研究所檚 books and a photo of his family.
Oilers head coach Dave Tippett and Leafs counterpart Sheldon Keefe expect to be consumed by the demands of their jobs, so no particular creature comforts required.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to treat it just like a road trip,害羞草研究所� Tippett declared. 害羞草研究所淵ou go in there with a change of clothes.
害羞草研究所淐oaches end up watching a lot of video anyways, so you害羞草研究所檒l be preoccupied with that I害羞草研究所檓 sure with so many games going on. That害羞草研究所檒l be entertainment enough, getting your team ready.害羞草研究所�
Running parallel to the hockey playoffs will essentially be an e-sports convention given the number of players taking their consoles to the hub cities.
害羞草研究所淚 think just my gaming station, that害羞草研究所檚 pretty much it for me,害羞草研究所� Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine said.
害羞草研究所淎nd a toothbrush.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� With files from Joshua Clipperton in Toronto.
Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press
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