Moncton Wildcats games cancelled due to H1N1
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | 2:27 PM ET
CBC News
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has cancelled the Moncton Wildcats' games this week after two players developed swine flu and several other members exhibited similar symptoms.
"QMJHL head physician Dr. Sylvain Boutet and team doctor Martin Robichaud have advised us that there have been no further complications regarding the health of the afflicted players and that none necessitate hospitalizing," league commissioner Gilles Courteau stated in a news release Wednesday.
"Nevertheless, the players and certain members of the team's staff will be quarantined for the next seven days. As such, the Moncton Wildcats' games this [week] are cancelled," he said.
Home games were scheduled for Thursday against Val-d'Or and Friday against Rouyn-Noranda.
Team officials announced Tuesday night that two players had swine flu and 15 additional players and staff members are suffering from flu-like symptoms.
"You know the worst case scenario came through in some senses, however no one is hospitalized, they're mild cases you know, generally speaking, and we're looking forward to a safe and speedy recovery," said the team's general manager Bill Schurman.
Team doctor Robichaud said all of the players could be back on the ice within seven days.
"Problem is that we don't know if the other ones that are not sick right now are gonna develop the symptoms or not, so maybe, I don't know, during next week we'll have a few more on the list."
Prevention protocol updated
Courteau said the league will follow the preventive measures recommended by public health officials in regard to the pandemic and an updated prevention protocol will be sent to the league's 18 franchises in light of the Moncton situation.
"We will keep monitoring the situation closely and, in the near future, we will look at different scenarios to reschedule the games," he said.
Courteau credited the Wildcats organization for being "proactive," saying the management "deserves a lot of credit."
The team has contacted all of the players' parents and those within the organization, as well as QMJHL officials.
The Moncton Wildcats recently came under fire when it was revealed that all 25 of their players had already been vaccinated against the swine flu, even as hundreds of others across Canada waited in long lines to get their shots.
Decision defended
The team's general manager Bill Schurman had defended the decision, saying the team took a pro-active approach and ordered the vaccines early.
Dr. Eilish Cleary, the province's chief medical officer, told CBC News that the doctor who gave the hockey players the vaccine has been reminded of the priority groups for the vaccine.
But on Wednesday, Schurman told reporters that players got their shots at a clinic that was open to the public.
He said they were given the shots on Friday, but it takes at least a week for the vaccine to take full effect and players started getting sick that same day.
Public clinics in the Moncton area were cancelled Friday due to a vaccine shortage.
Meanwhile, the league's head physician is recommended that all teams take preventive measures, including vaccination for the swine flu.
The next Moncton Wildcats game is slated for Nov. 10 in Rimouski.
