Storm Advisory 3/13/20: NHL News, Links and Daily Roundup

‘Hey, you slept in a room where someone on an NBA team might have (the coronavirus)’

For many of us, Coronavirus “got real” when Tom Hanks announced he and wife Rita Wilson tested positive for the COVID-19 virus while filming in Australia. Then things escalated across the sports world after Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were found to be carrying the virus while traveling and competing with their team. Which leads us ever closer to home.

Early today The Athletic’s Sara Civian broke the news that Hurricanes broadcaster John Forslund and digital content producer Zack Brame had been found at risk for exposure to coronavirus after occupying the same Detroit hotel rooms Gobert and Mitchell left less than 24 hours prior to their stay. As far as we know, neither Forslund nor Brame are showing symptoms of the illness. In a FaceTime interview this afternoon with ABC 11’s Mark Armstrong, Forslund relayed that he is self-quarantining at home and has not been tested because he doesn’t have any symptoms.

Friday night update: Adam Gold and Joe Ovies also spoke with Forslund via phone today on their afternoon show on 99.9 The Fan, and you can listen to that conversation at the 10:30 mark of their March 13 podcast.

We’ll keep everyone posted as we receive additional news, and in the meantime, we wish John and Zack all the best as they deal with the uncertainty of this latest development.

Storm Advisory

• NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke with CNBC Thursday evening regarding the league’s decision to pause the regular season (by the way, folks, this interview was produced by none other than Canes Country’s very own Justin Lape, so recognize).

• Hurricanes majority owner Tom Dundon joined Adam & Joe Thursday to share his reaction on the temporary shutdown (16-minute mark of March 12 podcast). [WRALSportFan]
• It may be obsolete soon (hey, who doesn’t want to relive the hype of Morgan Geekie’s NHL debut), so check out Michael Smith’s latest edition of Tweetmail. [Canes.com]
• If you haven’t already listened, do so now. If you have already listened, do so again. It’s worth it. Tripp Tracy joins the latest edition of the [CanesCast].
• In addition to being the Canes’ vice president of hockey management and strategy, he’s also a Ph.D. scientist with a bigger brain than the rest of us common folk. Here’s how Eric Tulsky explains COVID-19 mortality rates and why you might want to pay attention. [Twitter Thread]

• The Checkers season is also on pause, and play-by-play announcer Jason Shaya shares his thoughts on the state of affairs in Charlotte. [Checkers.com]
• Why the NHL hit the pause button on 2019-20, and what happens next. [ESPN]
• A new reality has taken over the sports world. [The Ringer]
• NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly issued a statement today outlining next steps for players. [TSN]
• And isn’t it just like the NHL to go into a hiatus with unfinished business on a player safety ruling?

• The Calgary Flames are mourning the passing of former president and CEO and current vice-chair Ken King. [Flames]
• Not hockey, but on a topic near and dear to many in this area (and beautifully told), the surreal story of cancelling the ACC Tournament. [N&O]

THIS JUST IN

• The Canes are answering your frequently-asked questions about tickets already purchased for upcoming games. [Canes.com]
• Finally:

One last note: unless major news breaks over the weekend (in which case we’ll make sure you know about it), the Canes Country crew plans to take the weekend off. With no hockey for the foreseeable future, how do you intend to spend the extra time? Please share in the comments along with any other articles, videos, memes, etc. of interest. Thanks and have a great weekend, everybody!