NHL Roundup: Teams have hit the ice, Phase 3 Mid-July, and Evander Kane leads Hockey Diversity Alliance

Anthony Scultore Updated: Oct 19, 2022

The sight of NHL teams hitting the ice again is enough to make a hockey fan smile no matter what team they root for. Edmonton tweeted out a photo today of a handful of players partaking in some on ice workouts. The image is glorious. This week, 16 NHL teams are expected to be at their training facilities with the Rangers scheduled to open tomorrow.

Alex Chiasson, Matt Benning, Kris Russell, Tyler Benson & Stuart Skinner are on the ice for the #Oilers today at @RogersPlace as Phase 2 of the @NHL's Return to Play Plan is officially underway.

Welcome home, fellas! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/E8DUaBvaLe
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 8, 2020

Phase 3 Still Being Negotiated

The NHL and NHLPA are still in negotiations to start Phase 3 “training camps” by Mid-July. That is the time frame most rumored. Two sources have told me it will either be Monday, July 13th or a week later on the 20th.

There's been some confusion out there about the potential start of NHL training camps for the 24 teams in Phase 3: both the NHL and NHLPA, subject to negotiation, are hoping for mid-July still for start of camps…
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 8, 2020

Hockey Diversity Alliance

Evander Kane and Akim Aliu are leading a group of active and retired NHLers to form the Hockey Diversity Alliance. It is a long and overdue step that should lead to a positive change in the game.