May 11 (Reuters) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League postponed Monday’s Walter Cup semi-final between Minnesota Frost and Montreal Victoire due to an illness affecting player safety, adding that medical assessments found symptoms were “not consistent with hantavirus.”
The winner-take-all Game 5 had been scheduled for Monday night at Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, with the series tied 2-2.
The league said the decision was made after consulting medical personnel and that a rescheduled date would be announced once it is deemed safe to resume play.
“The decision was made following consultation with medical personnel and in accordance with the league’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of players, fans, staff and all those involved in the competition,” the league said in a statement on Monday.
The PWHL did not specify which team was affected or disclose the nature of the illness.
Defending champions Minnesota forced a deciding fifth game with a 3-1 win on Friday, keeping alive its bid for a third straight Walter Cup title. Ottawa Charge sealed their place in the finals with a 4-3 overtime win over Boston Fleet on Sunday.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico CityEditing by Christian Radnedge)
