Conor Sheary, Penguins following NHL's brain-tickling coronavirus safety precautions

Scattered to the wind over the past three months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Penguins have begun to slowly reassemble at their facility in Cranberry for voluntary workouts as part of the second phase in the NHL’s plan to resume play and complete the 2019-20 season.

Given the unique circumstances, there is a bevy of intricate rules players must follow in order to maintain safe working conditions.

One includes a pretty invasive test for covid-19.

“It’s not the most fun test to take,” Sheary said during a video conference call with local reporters Tuesday. “I’ve gotten it twice now. They kind of stick a ‘Q-tip’ way up in your nostril and it feels like it’s in the back of your brain. That’s one of the procedures we’re taking. Other than that, it’s just kind of the social distancing thing, wearing a mask when you can’t keep that distance. Obviously, they’re telling us to wash our hands. We just have to implement that at the rink when we’re with our small groups.”

During this second phase, players are limited to groups of six, not including a staff member.

So players are largely left to coach themselves during these voluntary sessions.

“Last week, we weren’t allowed to have any coaches or anything,” Sheary said. “We were allowed to have a trainer in the gym. So he was leading us through workouts. It’s all voluntary. So it’s kind of just a guideline that they’re giving us.

“This week on the ice, we were allowed to have our skating coach. So he was able to take us through drills. But last week, it was just kind of like a group effort. We were following along drills that were given to us, but we were going on our own page at the same time. Sid was leading a lot of the drills, but it wasn’t one person over another just taking charge. We just kind of go through a bunch of drills together.”

This ice time is invaluable to Sheary.

“It was important for myself to get back on the ice,” he said. “I was able to have access to a home gym back home. As far as my strength and conditioning, I was able to kind of keep that up. Timing and things on the ice, you can’t get in a gym. For myself and a lot of guys that came back, just to have the access, I think it will really be beneficial for us that we’re able to skate together. Moving into Phase 3, I think it will be really helpful for us.”

Away from the rink, players aren’t subject to any NHL-implemented restrictions. But there appears to be caution when it comes to normal mundane activities.

“Myself, I want to protect myself as much as I can,” Sheary said. “Obviously, I have to go to the grocery store to cook at home. We’ve been ordering a lot of delivery at my house. Most of the time, I’ve been cooking and getting that delivery. If I wanted to go out to a restaurant, I think I’d just take the proper procedures and maybe sit outside when I have to.”

With the lack of a vaccine readily available, the threat of the coronavirus will always be present no matter what contingencies the league puts in place. Regardless, Sheary professes to have few reservations of returning to play.

“Myself personally, I don’t, as long as the things the league (is) putting in place are safe for all of us to play,” Sheary said. “At the end of the day, we all want to play, as long as the right things fall into place and they have the right safety precautions. Health is the main concern. As long as they have that in place, I don’t have any (concerns) myself.”

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