Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Canucks' Miller: 'Dangerous' to rush team back

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Wednesday, 14 April 2021 17:17

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller thinks his team is being rushed onto the ice after a COVID-19 outbreak, saying it is "dangerous to a lot of players."

"What we're being asked to do is not going to be too safe, if you're asking me," Miller told reporters on Wednesday.

Miller added: "It's kind of frustrating, if I'm being honest with you. We try to talk about the No. 1 priority being the players health and their families' safety, and it's almost impossible to do what they've asked us to do here on our return."

The Canucks haven't played since March 24 as the team was ravaged by an outbreak involving a variant of the virus. Many players were symptomatic. The team is back on the ice this week and Vancouver is scheduled for a game Friday against the Oilers. To complete its 56-game schedule, Vancouver must play its remaining 19 games in 31 days.

"It's kind of crazy," Miller said. " I know everyone has a job to do but to expect our entire team to be ready to play in one practice and a pre-game skate is a little bit hard to comprehend."

One player told ESPN on Tuesday that although doctors have told him he is no longer contagious after contracting the virus, he is still experiencing some after effects, like brain fog. The player told ESPN that he is planning to resume play with the team, though he is concerned about "the unknown."

All players must be cleared by a cardiologist as well as a team doctor before they are cleared to get back to on the ice.

Miller was one of the few players on the Canucks that did not test positive for COVID-19.

"Mentally, for me, this hasn't been the easiest year," Miller said. "I'm coming up on 50 days of quarantine just in this past year. It's been a rough go for a lot of people, and I've definitely been thinking about my teammates and their families every day. I feel fortunate that we weren't as affected as they were."

As of Wednesday, there were still seven Canucks players on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list; nine players were removed a day earlier.

"I hope people don't take this the wrong way, I'm a super competitive guy," said Miller, a nine-year NHL veteran who also played for the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning. "But this isn't about hockey for our team. This is about the health and safety of our players, their family and their children. This isn't about making the playoffs."

To accommodate the Canucks games, the NHL has the North Division now ending its schedule May 16; the regular season was originally scheduled to end on May 11.

The NHL said there is a chance that the Stanley Cup playoffs begin for the three United States-based divisions while the North Division still finishes up regular season play.

The Canucks are 10 points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the fourth playoff spot in the North Division.

Many infected players and their families were symptomatic, including some who had fatigue, body aches, chills and dehydration. At least one player required an IV, sources told ESPN. Miller said he had some teammates that were "struggling to breathe going up and down steps."

Players in the United States have begun to get vaccinated, however rollout has been much slower in Canada.

General manager Jim Benning said last week that no Canucks players have said they want to opt out of the rest of the season.

"I know talking to players, they're worried about their families and stuff. And we'll get through all that," Benning said. "But these guys, they're competitive guys and they want to get back playing again when they know that they're going to be safe, their families are going to be safe."

Read 252 times

Soccer

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

EmailPrintUnited States women's national team midfielder Korbin Albert apologized on Thursday for pr...

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

EmailPrintLeicester City manager Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position after an internal...

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe agent of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has criticised the...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play again this season...

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

EmailPrintFormer G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose b...

Baseball

Opening Day takeaways: What we learned from a wild start to the 2024 MLB season

Opening Day takeaways: What we learned from a wild start to the 2024 MLB season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWhat an MLB Opening Day!All 30 teams were scheduled to be in action...

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- That Juan Soto's first signature Yankee moment happened...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated