#Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews tests positive for coronavirus

A wave of positive coronavirus tests hit the NHL late this week and that now includes Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews.

The 22-year-old has gone into quarantine at his Arizona home in hopes of still being able to participate in the start of training camp on July 10, according to the Toronto Sun.

“The Toronto Maple Leafs will not be commenting on reports surrounding testing for any of the Club’s players or staff,” a spokesman for the team said. “The league will provide updates on a regular basis with aggregate totals of the number of tests conducted and number of positive tests reported without disclosing either the identities of the affected Clubs or Players.”

Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen reportedly spent much of the hiatus from the league with Matthews at his Scottsdale home, but did not test positive for COVID-19, per the Toronto Sun. Andersen is no longer living with Matthews or in Arizona, according to the report.

Matthews is apparently one of many players living in the state to recently contract the virus. The Toronto Sun reported that a number of unidentified Arizona Coyote players, who were training alongside Matthews, also tested positive recently.

The news of Matthews’ positive coronavirus test comes shortly after the Tampa Bay Lightning closed its practice facilities after multiple players and staff members tested positive as well.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that the Lightning facility will be closed until at least July 6.

The NHL released a statement revealing that since training facilities re-opened on June 8, 11 players have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Since NHL Clubs were permitted to open their training facilities on June 8, all Players entering these facilities for voluntary training have been subject to mandatory testing for COVID-19,” the statement read. “Through today, in excess of 200 Players have undergone multiple testing. A total of 11 of these Players have tested positive. All Players who have tested positive have been self-isolated and are following CDC and Health Canada protocols.

“The NHL will provide a weekly update on the number of tests administered to Players and the results of those tests. The League will not be providing information on the identity of the Players or their Clubs.”

All of this comes at a time when Major League Baseball, the NFL, college football and the PGA have all announced recent positive coronavirus tests.

Five players and three staff members on the Philadelphia Phillies tested positive for COVID-19, causing them to close their Florida training base. MLB has since closed all of its spring training facilities so they can undergo a coronavirus cleaning as a number of clubs reported cases.

It was reported Friday that a San Francisco 49ers player who was working out with teammates in Nashville tested positive for coronavirus. The group, which consisted of all the 49ers quarterbacks and other skill players, were tested Friday and are awaiting their results, per the report.

In college football, at least 28 Clemson athletes and staff have tested positive, including 23 football players, according to reports.