The Replay: The week that was in Triangle sports

The week that was in Triangle sports may be more remembered as a week when sports teetered on the edge of a COVID shutdown — again.

The Hurricanes’ pre-holiday schedule was cut short, several college teams hit the pause button, and at least one bowl team had to at least entertain the possibility of not playing.

Here’s what we were tracking:

NHL hits pause button, drops Olympics

As the omicron variant of COVID-19 started a new rash of outbreaks across the world, the pro sports arena was not immune.

The Carolina Hurricanes, scheduled to have three games this past week before breaking for the holidays, didn’t play at all. They were last on the ice on Saturday, Dec. 18, with a patchwork lineup against the Los Angeles Kings. Playing most of the game with six NHL regular forwards and five AHL call-ups, the Canes still powered to a win over the Kings, just like they had while playing short two players the previous Thursday.

Games Sunday (vs. Nashville), Tuesday (at Boston) and Thursday (at Ottawa) were postponed due to high numbers of infected players. Around the league, teams did not play past Wednesday.

Also this week, the NHL officially came to an agreement with the NHLPA that NHL players will not be going to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics out of concern for player safety, COVID-19 protocols, and quarantine rules in China.

Bowl preparation

While Miami’s trip to the Sun Bowl was held in question after an outbreak of COVID-19, the N.C. State Wolfpack continued preparations for their trip to San Diego.

The Wolfpack (9-3) takes on UCLA (8-4) on Dec. 28 in San Diego for the Holiday Bowl.

While some N.C. State fans are already planning for Charlotte, and a possible ACC championship run in 2022, ending 2021 on a bad note could kill some of the momentum created the last few weeks. That’s why members of the team, while excited about the future, are locked in on the present.

“We want to go win,” center Grant Gibson said last week.

Final games before the break

UNC, Duke and NC State men and women’s basketball got in one more game before the break, and for some of them it was the start of ACC play.

UNC saw Appalachian State on Tuesday, N.C. State hosted Wright State that same evening, and Duke opened ACC play against Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

On the women’s side, the Tar Heels saw BC and Alabama State, Duke faced Miami and Charleston, and NC State hosted Virginia.

This story was originally published December 26, 2021 at 6:00 AM.