This article was originally written by Jacob Scholl of the Idaho Statesman.
The ECHL has announced that it will push back the start dates for the upcoming 2020-21 season for all teams — including the Idaho Steelheads — because of safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
The league said Wednesday that it will delay the beginning of the season until Dec. 4, but it still hopes to play a full 72-game schedule. ECHL teams, including the Boise-based Steelheads, were slated to open the season Oct. 16. The Steelheads were scheduled to begin the season that day with a game against the Utah Grizzlies, according to an online schedule.
“We are eager to return to hockey, but at this time we believe this decision is prudent for the safety of our players, employees and fans,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin in a news release. “The ECHL and our Board of Governors are focused on the 2020-21 season and remain optimistic for the safe reopening of our venues across the continent. We appreciate our partners and fans continued support and patience, as we work together with our venues, local health officials and the members of the PHPA’s Executive Committee towards the safe return of ECHL hockey.”
Adjustments to team schedules will be announced at a later date, according to the league.
The NHL recently returned to action for a tweaked Stanley Cup Playoff tournament, but those games are taking place in two “bubbles,” one in Toronto and one in Edmonton.
NEW WEBSITE AVAILABLE FOR K-12 ONLINE SCHOOLING OPTIONS IN IDAHO
The Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families has released a new website to give parents more online options for tuition-free school.
The website — idahovirtualschools.org — is the latest resource made available for parents looking for virtual schooling because of the coronavirus, according to a news release from the charter school family coalition.
While traditional public schools have tried to make the move to online options, some charter schools have offered online schooling since well before the coronavirus outbreak.
The website aims to educate parents on the options they have for their children’s schooling. The charter school coalition is offering resources, hosting events and spreading the word on what options are available in Idaho.
12 CORONAVIRUS DEATHS REPORTED IN IDAHO TUESDAY
Health districts around Idaho reported a combined 12 coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 214 deaths since the outbreak began.
The highest number of those deaths was in Canyon County, with five reported by Southwest District Health. Its deaths now total 37. Just behind Canyon was Ada County, which reported four deaths. The county now has 70 reported deaths connected to the virus, the most of any county in the state.
Single deaths were reported in Kootenai, Owyhee and Washington counties, according to local health districts.
Demographic data from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare detailed 10 of the recent deaths, showing five were men and five were women. Five people who died were in their 80s, two people were in their 40s, one in their 50s, another in their 60s and one in their 70s.
Idaho health districts reported a total of 467 cases on Tuesday, breaking a streak of three straight days with less than 400 cases being tallied.
As of Tuesday evening, 20,924 confirmed cases of the coronavirus have been recorded in Idaho. State health officials indicate that 7,875 people have “recovered” from the coronavirus.
Ada County added 186 COVID-19 cases, the most of any county on Tuesday. Following right behind was Canyon County, reporting 124. Ada now has 7,780 cases and Canyon has 4,904.
IDHW reported 64 new “probable cases” Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,367.
Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in nearly all of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 7,780, Adams 17, Bannock 347, Bear Lake 13, Benewah 48, Bingham 240, Blaine 556, Boise 32, Bonner 154, Bonneville 665, Boundary 35, Camas 1, Canyon 4,904, Caribou 28, Cassia 446, Clark 5, Clearwater 14, Custer 7, Elmore 194, Franklin 42, Fremont 59, Gem 145, Gooding 129, Idaho 29, Jefferson 132, Jerome 389, Kootenai 1,627, Latah 83, Lemhi 11, Lincoln 47, Madison 114, Minidoka 420, Nez Perce 121, Oneida 10, Owyhee 221, Payette 319, Power 53, Shoshone 73, Teton 57, Twin Falls 1,128, Valley 48 and Washington 181.
Community spread has been detected in the majority of Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Bear Lake, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Boundary, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Shoshone, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley and Washington.
