COVID-19 has arrived in the QMJHL

COVID-19 has officially hit the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

After making it through training camps, pre-season and the first weekend of the regular season, the QMJHL has had to hit the pause button on three of its Quebec based franchises.

The league announced this afternoon that a Blainville-Boisbriand Armada player has tested positive for the virus. It's the first known positive case for a QMJHL player.

The Armada and the Sherbrooke Phoenix, who played each other twice last weekend, have "paused their activities until the investigation by public health officials is complete," according to a league press release.

The league said that players and staff will now be isolated and tested. Also, public health officials have been contacted and are exploring the nature of all contacts between players and staff. Any additional findings will be shared with both the teams and the league.

The announcement came not long after it was confirmed that the Armada and Quebec Remparts would have to pause activities - which seemingly involves both practices and games - for a month now that both teams are in "red zones" as designated by the Quebec government. COVID-19 cases have been rapidly rising in Quebec - particularly in urban areas like Montreal and Quebec City.

By the sounds of it, the league will try and find a way to get an exemption.

Since the beginning of training camps at the end of August, the conduct of our activities has been above reproach. The return to play protocol was approved and applauded by Public Health Officials in Quebec and by the three Maritime-based Provinces in which the league operates. It has been hailed as thorough and effective. As a matter of fact, the League would like to congratulate the players and team staff members for their flawless execution.

Over the course of the next few days, we will share with Quebec Public Health Officials additional measures which will render the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada’s and Quebec Remparts’ bubbles even more secure. We hope that these new directives will be well-received by Quebec’s health agency. The QMJHL is convinced that these additional measures will go above and beyond what is required to protect our players, staff and officials and enable all of our teams to continue playing.

Even if the league gets an exemption and can continue play in the red zones, this is just not good. Cases keep going up in Quebec with no sign of slowing down. Things are likely to get worse before they get better - but let's hope that doesn't end up being the case.