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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is hoping to crown a Stanley Cup champion this year, but it might not happen because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bettman announced Thursday that the NHL was going to “pause” the season because of the virus, noting: “Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup.”

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There’s no guarantee that will happen and there’s a possibility the Stanley Cup won’t be awarded for only the third time in history.

Photo by Eric Bolte / USA TODAY Sports

The last time was 2005, when Bettman and the NHL’s team owners locked out the players in a labour dispute, forcing the cancellation of the entire season. The first time was 1919 because of an influenza pandemic.

The Spanish flu infected 500 million people around the world from January 1918 through December 2020 and killed more than 20 million. It also forced the cancellation of the Stanley Cup final between the Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans after five games had been played and the series was tied 2-2-1.