The National Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 B.C.-born senior officiating manager is inside the 害羞草研究所淣HL bubble害羞草研究所� in Toronto now.
Rob Shick, originally from Port Alberni, crossed through the barriers on Thursday, July 23, and won害羞草研究所檛 come out now until the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs害羞草研究所攑ossibly not until October.
National Hockey League players began arriving in the twin NHL bubbles of Toronto and Edmonton on Sunday, July 26. Twenty-four teams will compete in a restart of the season, which was interrupted in March thanks to the coronavirus epidemic.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l be there until anywhere from 45-50 days by the time we get out of there,害羞草研究所� Shick said last week from his home in Florida.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l be looking after the officials that are in Toronto, then I害羞草研究所檒l be interacting with the coaches and general managers害羞草研究所攁ll inside the bubble.害羞草研究所�
Security will be tight inside the two NHL sites, with security fencing separating NHL teams and personnel from the general population. Everyone inside will be undergoing daily COVID-19 testing.
害羞草研究所淥nce we害羞草研究所檙e in the bubble we害羞草研究所檙e not allowed to go out,害羞草研究所� Shick explained.
Each bubble will be self-contained, with 14 restaurants for players and staff as well as concierge service for players to receive delivery. An outdoor recreation facility has been created at BMO Field in Toronto, where the Toronto FC plays MLS soccer and the Argonauts ordinarily play their Canadian Football League games.
害羞草研究所淚t will be quite extensive,害羞草研究所� he said. The hockey arena where games will be played has been set up with 害羞草研究所�20 or 30害羞草研究所� cameras, he said, which will give fans watching on television a superior experience. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to look amazing on TV.害羞草研究所�
Shick is the compliance officer for his group of officials, and must check in daily with the NHL to let them know everyone has had a temperature checked before they leave the hotel, have had their daily COVID-19 nasal swab and have been wearing their masks.
Shick should have been in Port Alberni earlier in July for the annual Charity Golf Classic at the Alberni Golf Club, which he started in 1994. He returns to play in it every year.
害羞草研究所淣ormally I would have already been up there for the golf tournament, which is the highlight of my year: getting out of the weather in Florida, seeing friends and family, and raising money for charity. This is a different time and we害羞草研究所檝e had to make adjustments.
害羞草研究所淗opefully next year I害羞草研究所檒l be back up for the tournament.害羞草研究所�
The golf club hasn害羞草研究所檛 found a replacement for raising money for the various charities that benefited, including BC Children害羞草研究所檚 Hospital, said Gerry Fagan of the organizing committee.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had a few people from out of town show up who are regulars at the tournament,害羞草研究所� Fagan added. Former Alberni Valley Bulldog assistant coach Adam Hayduk, CTV Morning Live co-anchor Jason Pires, Ucluelet mayor Mayco Noel and Tony Powell害羞草研究所擲hick害羞草研究所檚 cousin from Campbell River害羞草研究所攈ave all come to play golf this summer; 害羞草研究所渢hey all said that they missed the tournament,害羞草研究所� Fagan said.
Shick spent the early part of the pandemic at home in Florida, but said the resulting disease害羞草研究所擟OVID-19害羞草研究所攈asn害羞草研究所檛 affected him personally beyond a seven-day quarantine. His wife, Lynda Frye, is a doctor specializing in women害羞草研究所檚 breast cancer, and one of his sons is also a frontline worker. 害羞草研究所淢y wife works in the (health-care) business so she sees more than I do, and my son is a firefighter now.
害羞草研究所淭hey see more on the front lines but are fine for now.害羞草研究所�
Shick worked on nailing down the officiating side of the NHL restart and Stanley Cup playoffs. It害羞草研究所檚 been challenging, he noted, because there aren害羞草研究所檛 many direct flights to bring referees to the NHL bubble cities. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e all had to have tests for COVID-19 before leaving. I害羞草研究所檝e had three tests in one week and will be tested again on a daily basis in Toronto. We害羞草研究所檒l be wearing masks. We害羞草研究所檙e settled right into a hotel.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be challenging, but at the same time exciting to get hockey on TV for everybody.害羞草研究所�
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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