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Report: NHL reconsidering preseason games in China due to coronavirus

 (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
The NHL is reportedly thinking about putting an end to next season's preseason games in China. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

The National Hockey League is considering suspending their plans to hold preseason events in China prior to the 2020-21 campaign due to the the threat of coronavirus, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

Prior to the 2017-18 and 2018-19 regular seasons, the NHL held the O.R.G. China Games — a two-game series featuring some of the game’s brightest stars.

With the ongoing concern over the spread of coronavirus — also referred to as COVID-19 — and the roots that the virus has in China, the league is reportedly going to put the event on hold for the time being.

The NHL did not have games prior to this season due to logistical issues with booking arenas.

As of Feb. 17, there have been 1,770 deaths in China as a result of the respiratory virus, according to The New York Times. Additionally, “four others have died outside of China as of Sunday night.”

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