Click here for the latest coronavirus news, which the BDN has made free for the public. You can support our critical reporting on the coronavirus by purchasing a digital subscription or donating directly to the newsroom. Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars is cautiously optimistic that the National Hockey League will resume play this summer under a format recently approved by the NHL Players Association. The vote was 29-2 among the 31 player representatives. But the former University of Maine star said there is still a long way to go and much to be ironed out before they play their first game. [Our COVID-19 tracker contains the most recent information on Maine cases by county] The league suspended play on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed format would feature a 24-team playoff format.