BHN Puck Links: NHL Issues Memo On Who Must Be Vaccinated

Per Sportsnet NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the NHL sent a memo to all 32 teams Friday that stated:

“Any worker or people with access to personal interactions with club personnel, including players, are required to be fully vaccinated.”

NHL sent a memo updating vaccination requirements to its teams: "Any person whose job, role, position or access entails or entitles them to have personal interactions (within 12 feet) with Club Hockey Operations personnel (including Players) are required to be Fully Vaccinated."

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 13, 2021

This announcement came two days after the Winnipeg Jets announced that while they would be returning to full capacity at Jets home games, all fans attending must show proof that they are fully vaccinated. That same day though, the San Jose Sharks announced they would not require proof that fans are fully vaccinated but will require proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the game. 

Boston Hockey Now has reached out via email to the Boston Bruins to find out if Bruins fans will need to be fully vaccinated to attend Bruins games during the 2021-22 regular season but as of Saturday morning, there was no reply yet.

Following the Jets’ announcement, I posted a tweet poll asking Bruins fans if they would be OK with the Bruins requiring fans attending home games this season to be fully vaccinated. Despite this being probably the most polarizing topic right now, the Yes votes won by a whopping 81.8 percent to 18.2 percent for the No votes. 

#NHLBruins fans, yesterday the #GoJetsGo became the first NHL team to require fans to be vaccinated in order to attend games.

Do you agree with this and are you OK with the B’s doing this?@BOSHockeyNow

— MurphysLaw74 (@MurphysLaw74) August 12, 2021

It’s good to know that Bruins fans are thinking of and caring for each other and not part of the selfish and entitled population that is literally willing to die on a hill of ignorance!

Now onto the rest of your BHN Puck Links:

Boston Bruins

The Bruins now have times to go with their 2021-22 regular season games. (BHN)

Given the way their season has gone lately, maybe the Boston Red Sox should hire Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy until October. (BHN)

National Hockey Now

In the humble opinion of this puck scribe, not enough credit is given to the New York Islanders for taking the eventual back-to-back Stanley Cup champions to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. Don’t forget, the Isles were without captain Anders Lee and as Stefan Rosner writes, they will be even better this season when he returns. (NYI Hockey Now)

What happened to 2017 Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns’ game over the last three seasons? (San Jose Hockey Now)

Other than the late-breaking news Friday night that NHL players must be vaccinated, the big story in the NHL Friday was that former Boston Bruins captain Joe Thornton has signed with the Florida Panthers at the young age of 42. (Florida Hockey Now)

The Detroit Red Wings lost a valued member of their front office on Friday as Assistant GM Ryan Martin was hired for the same post with the New York Rangers. Martin will also serve as GM of the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. I met Martin many years ago when I moonlighted as a scout for the Montreal Juniors in the QMJHL. The man knows the game inside out and is one of the most cerebral managers in the game. I wish him the best in his new venture. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Can Nolan Patrick, the second overall pick at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft finally start to realize his potential with the Vegas Golden Knights after a disappointing start to his career with the Philadelphia Flyers? (Vegas Hockey Now)

Rob Simpson gives his rankings of the Vancouver Canucks’ offseason moves thus far. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

NHL

Auston Matthews will be out of commission until training camp after successful wrist surgery. (ESPN)

The Jets are going to honor the late hockey hall of famer Dale Hawerchuk with a statue. (TSN)

The hockey media world lost a legend on Thursday. RIP Jay Greenberg. (NY Post)