35 NHL players test positive for COVID-19 since Phase 2 opening

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One week after saying that 26 players tested positive for COVID-19 since the opening of Phase 2 of its Return To Play plan, the National Hockey League updated its numbers on Monday as nine more players have tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to a league statement, a total of 23 players have tested positive for COVID-19 out of 396 players to report to their team's training/practice facilities for their voluntary, individualized workouts. That total is up from the 15 players that the NHL confirmed tested positive last week out of 250 players tested.

The league said in its statement on Monday that it has conducted in excess of 2,900 COVID-19 tests, including more than 1,400 tests over the course of this past week.

In addition, the NHL added that 12 players have tested positive for COVID-19 outside of the Phase 2 protocol.

NHL statement on COVID-19 testing results: pic.twitter.com/NDWmOwnvnf

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) July 6, 2020

The NHL has pushed back the commencement of Phase 3 of the Return To Play plan to Monday, July 13 as the league and its Players' Association continue to work on finalizing protocols for this summer's 24-team format. With the start of Phase 3, teams will be able to begin formal training camps at their home facilities . After two weeks of training camp, the league will then plan on having all 24 teams report to their respective hub cities before the official return of play on or around Saturday, Aug. 1.

The locations of the two hub cities are expected to be in Canada as Toronto, Ontario will host the Eastern Conference side of the Return To Play format and Edmonton, Alberta to host the Western Conference teams. Edmonton will also play host to the league's Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final later this summer.

Stay tuned for the latest developments on this story...