Only one CFL game is in the books for the 2021 CFL season, but trouble already appears to be brewing in the province of Alberta.
According to a report from TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, the Edmonton Elks have canceled their Friday walk-through and post-practice media availability due to COVID protocol. TSN’s Farhan Lalji is now reporting that two players have tested positive for the virus.
“Two players tested positive. One of the players was on active roster, one wasn’t,” he said in a tweet. “Every player on the team has been retested this morning & the results should come back later tonight. The original tests were taken yesterday morning & came back last night.”
The team issued a statement earlier in the day saying they were continuing to prepare for their home opener and that the game was not facing cancelation. Lalji echoed that claim.
“All players and coaches are still at the facility, which has not been shut down. Will undergo the more accurate PCR tests as part of the protocols. At this point no concerns that Saturday’s Elks-RedBlacks game is in jeopardy,” he tweeted.
According to a policy declared by the CFL earlier this week, if a game cannot be played as scheduled because of COVID-19 issues, and it cannot be rescheduled:
- And one club is suffering from the COVID-19 issues, that club will forfeit the game and be assigned a loss while its’ opponent will be credited with a win by a score of 1-0.
- And both clubs are suffering from the COVID-19 issues, then both clubs will forfeit the game and be assigned a loss.
In both of these circumstances, if a team can prove that 85 per cent of its’ players under contract have been vaccinated, at least once and preferably fully, its players will receive their salary for the cancelled game. If the team falls below that 85 per cent threshold, the entire team will not receive its salary.
As of last Friday’s league-wide roster cutdown, 79 per cent of CFL players are fully or partially vaccinated. Three CFL teams have more than 85 per cent of their players vaccinated. The other six teams have vaccination rates ranging from 67 per cent to 81 per cent.
The league’s cancellation policy further states a game will be cancelled if any of the following conditions are met:
- Its’ playing is precluded by a decision by a government health authority.
- A team does not have 36 players to dress for the game;
- A team does not have an individual available to coach the offence and another individual to coach the defence;
- A team does not have a certified athletic therapist and sports medicine physician available for the game.
In addition, the commissioner can cancel a game at his discretion following consultation with the CFL’s chief medical officers and the CFLPA.
The Elks are set to open their season on Saturday at home against the Ottawa Redblacks.
