COVID-19 PROTOCOL FOR 2021 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

1. Overview
   This memorandum sets forth the policies that will be applicable during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs for: (i) Group 1 and 2(a) COVID-19 vaccinated individuals in the Club Travelling Party; and (ii) vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on “Fully-Vaccinated Clubs” (as defined below). Notwithstanding these updates, all individuals and Clubs involved in the NHL’s 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are required to comply with all applicable regulations, including additional restrictions (if any) that may be imposed by local, provincial/state and federal authorities. If the applicable local, provincial/state or federal regulations impose less stringent standards than are set forth in this memorandum, the standards set forth herein will govern, unless expressly stated otherwise.
   Please be advised that all provisions of the COVID-19 Protocol and related Protocols remain applicable and effective, unless expressly modified herein. The medical experts at the NHL and NHLPA will continue to review emerging data and guidance issued by the CDC and the Public Health Agency of Canada, and may make further modifications (either more relaxed, or more cautious), as deemed appropriate and necessary by prevailing circumstances. In this regard, please note that, upon agreement with the NHLPA, these modifications to the COVID-19 Protocol are subject to being withdrawn altogether for various reasons, including in the case of a team outbreak. Further, also subject to the NHLPA’s agreement, these modifications may be amended to the extent necessary to facilitate any cross-border travel that may be necessary and permitted during the course of the Playoffs
2. Definitions
   Fully-Vaccinated Individual(s) – Individuals in the Club Travelling Party will be considered fully-vaccinated once two (2) weeks have passed since receiving the final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. “Fully-Vaccinated Individuals” on the Club will only include the Club Travelling Party. Group 1 and 2(a) individuals who are not a part of the Club Travelling Party shall be treated as Unvaccinated Individuals for purposes of these updated policies (see Section 4, below). Each On-Ice Official on a crew will be considered Fully-Vaccinated once two (2) weeks have passed since receiving the final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
   Fully-Vaccinated Club – a Club will be considered fully-vaccinated once 85% of the individuals in the Club Travelling Party are fully-vaccinated.
   • Each Club Compliance Officer shall submit on a weekly basis each Friday (beginning May 7, 2021) the total number of persons in the Club Travelling Party, which for the Playoffs will be a maximum of 56 persons (i.e., the denominator), and of those persons, the total number of individuals in the Club Travelling Party who are Fully Vaccinated (i.e., the numerator).
   Protocol modifications that are applicable to Fully-Vaccinated Clubs will also apply to teams of On-Ice Officials, if all members assigned to a game (100%) are fully vaccinated.
3. Protocol Modifications for Fully-Vaccinated Individuals
   The following provisions will apply to Fully-Vaccinated Individuals during the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
   a. Quarantine – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals will not be subject to quarantine requirements following exposure:
   (i) to an infected individual; or
   (ii) during commercial travel in cases of Player recalls and travel due to family emergencies.
   Following any such exposure, these individuals must nevertheless be monitored closely for symptoms. Individuals who develops symptoms following exposure will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Positive Test Protocol.
   b. Testing
   • Testing on “Days Off” – RT-PCR testing currently required on Player “days off” will no longer be required for Fully-Vaccinated Individuals.
   • Point of Care (“POC”) Testing on Game Days – POC testing currently required on game days will no longer be required for Fully-Vaccinated Individuals, unless that Player has not had a PCR test the previous day due to a “day off”. If the Player has not had a PCR test the day prior to a game, a POC is still required on game day. As an alternative, teams may arrange same day rapid local PCR results from a reputable local facility on game day.
   • Point of Care (“POC”) Positive Test Protocol – for Fully-Vaccinated individuals with an initial positive POC test, the current POC Positive Test Protocol will apply, except the lab-based PCR test is not required.
   • NOTE: Any individual who returns an initial positive test for COVID-19 must enter the Positive Test Protocol, regardless of their vaccination status.
   c. Work-Home Quarantine and Social Gatherings – Current “work-home quarantine” restrictions and other related restrictions will be relaxed, as follows:
   • Social Gatherings Outside of Club Facilities – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may meet in groups of up to eight (8) at a social gathering, which group may include persons not in the Club Travelling Party (i.e., friends, family, other guests, and/or with teammates or Club personnel (including individuals in Groups 3 and 4)), so long as each person in the group has had at least two (2) weeks pass since receiving the final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
   These gatherings can occur either indoors or outdoors (dining/restaurant scenarios are specifically addressed below in this Section 3(c); in no circumstances may dining/restaurant eating or drinking occur with individuals not in the Club Travelling Party). Face coverings and social distancing are not required during these gatherings.
   • Hotel Room Visitation – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals are permitted in the hotel rooms of other Fully-Vaccinated Individuals.
   • Dining/Restaurants – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may eat and drink at restaurants which offer outdoor dining, either individually, or with other Fully-Vaccinated Individuals.
   • Commuting – Two (2) or more Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may commute unmasked together.
   d. Access to Facilities – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals will no longer be subject to time limitations for pre-game arena arrival.
4. Protocol Modifications for Fully-Vaccinated Clubs
   The following provisions will apply for Clubs whose Club Travelling Party satisfies the “Fully-Vaccinated Club” threshold during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Notwithstanding the below provisions, Unvaccinated Individuals in the Club Travelling Party on a Fully Vaccinated Club, and Group 1 and 2(a) individuals who are not in the Club Travelling Party, must continue to abide by all preventative aspects of the existing COVID-19 Protocol, including, without limitation, wearing of face coverings and distancing.)
   Crews of Fully-Vaccinated On-Ice Officials can take advantage of Paragraphs 4(a), 4(b), 4(d) and 4(g) if both Clubs at issue for a particular Playoff Series are also “fully vaccinated.” Crews of Fully-Vaccinated On-Ice Officials are not eligible to take advantage of Paragraphs 4(c), 4(e), 4(f) or 4(h) under any circumstances.
   For clarity, these Protocol modifications do not alter the provisions in the COVID-19 Protocol which assign participants to Groups based on their roles and responsibilities, nor does it change their level of access to Restricted Areas and Non-Restricted Areas. For example, Group 1 and 2(a) individuals shall access only Restricted Areas in Club facilities, and continue to be prohibited from accessing Non-Restricted Areas absent extenuating circumstances.
   a. Masks at Club Facilities (Practice and Game Facilities) – Face coverings shall be worn by the Club Travelling Party (i.e., Fully-Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Group 1 and 2 individuals) in connection with all NHL Games, including pregame, ingame and post-game in all public areas (i.e. non locker room or on-ice areas). At all other times, Fully-Vaccinated Individuals are not required to wear face coverings in non-public areas at the Game Arena or the Practice facility.
   b. Team Meetings and Social Gatherings – Team meetings and social gatherings
   of Fully Vaccinated Individuals can resume with no requirement for Fully-Vaccinated Individuals on such team to socially distance or wear face coverings. Unvaccinated Individuals may participate in the same room (including in team lounges), so long as the room allows for sufficient distancing of this group from one another and from Fully-Vaccinated Individuals (and such distancing is adhered to). In any such settings, unvaccinated persons must wear face coverings at all times.
   c. Team Travel – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals will be permitted to eat on flights and buses.
   d. Team Meals –
   • Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may eat together at an outdoor setting (no limitation on group size), with no requirement for masks or social distancing.
   • Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may also gather indoors to dine, with no requirement for masks or social distancing (no limitation on group size), if a separate section of the restaurant is designated and secured from the rest of the restaurant’s patrons — ideally in a reserved room — and Fully-Vaccinated team members are served by masked restaurant employees.
   • With respect to post-game/practice meals, teams may provide buffet-style meals served by approved staff in a room reserved for Fully-Vaccinated Individuals with no requirement for wearing of face coverings or maintaining social distancing. Teams shall have a separate meal room for Unvaccinated Individuals pursuant to the COVID-19 Protocol, including serving buffet style meals by approved staff, mandatory mask use unless actively eating or drinking, and proper social distancing between individuals.
   e. Player Use of Saunas and Steam Rooms – Fully-Vaccinated Players may use saunas and steam rooms at the Club facility, with other Fully-Vaccinated Individuals (with no distancing or face covering requirement).
   f. Valet Parking – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may valet park their cars at Club
   facilities.
   g. Golf – Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may golf as a group. Such individuals shall not enter the clubhouse or other indoor facilities and should remain distanced from other patrons. Rented golf equipment should be accessed separately (and in a different area) from other patrons. Masks may be removed when on the golf course. Two (2) Fully-Vaccinated Individuals may share the same golf cart.
5. Education
   Clubs shall ensure that this memorandum is distributed to all Group 1 and 2(a) personnel, including coaches and all individuals in the Club Travelling Party. Club Medical shall provide specific education on these modifications to all Group 1 and 2(a) personnel in the Club Travelling Party, and otherwise