Team, QMJHL to discuss situation publicly today

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By Sean Hatchard
Times & Transcript Staff

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The Moncton Wildcats, who have been sideswiped by illness over the last three days, received a bombshell last night.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club announced that two of its players have tested positive with the H1N1 virus. The team has not released the names of the players.

The team also announced that 15 additional players as well as team staff are suffering from similar symptoms.

Wildcats doctor Martin Robichaud confirmed the medical test results last night.

Current symptoms have not caused anyone in the organization to be hospitalized, but the team has been advised that all infected players and staff should be quarantined for approximately seven days.

Wildcats general manager Bill Schurman issued a brief news release last night, but declined further comment.

Moncton head coach and director of hockey operations Danny Flynn, who has been sick this week, was not available for comment.

The team notified the QMJHL of the situation last night and the league is expected to issue a statement this morning at 11 a.m. The Wildcats will hold a media briefing today at 11:30 a.m. at the Moncton Coliseum.

The Wildcats are scheduled to play a pair of home games this week, tomorrow against the Val-d'Or Foreurs and Friday against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies at the Coliseum.

The games were still on as of last night, Schurman said. The league is expected to consult with its medical officials before making a statement this morning.

Schurman noted the team has contacted all of the players' parents and billets, as well as those within the organization, and has assured them that appropriate measures have been put into place to provide the best care and support possible to all concerned.

Moncton's 25-man roster, the coaching staff and others on the hockey staff all received both the H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine on Friday.

The team had 19 players at practice on Saturday night, but a large number of players became very ill overnight. By Sunday morning, Flynn was receiving calls from players who were too sick to play in a game against the Montreal Juniors later that day at the Coliseum.

The Wildcats had only 11 players who were healthy enough to suit up and following the recommendations of Moncton's medical staff and QMJHL chief medical officer Sylvain Boutet, the league cancelled the game about 90 minutes before the scheduled 4 p.m. start.

League rules stipulate teams must have 16 players, including two goaltenders, to play a game.

The Wildcats cancelled practice yesterday and Monday and had hoped to return to the rink this afternoon, but last night's medical test results have changed that plan.

Moncton is planning to reschedule its game against Montreal for a date in early January, when the Juniors are in the Maritimes for another road trip.

NOTE: Team mascot Wild Willie will be one of the participants at today's launch of Art on Ice, an initiative to help raise funds in support of the breakfast programs in School District 2 and community schools. The program, which will see children create art projects that will be on display during five Wildcats games in December and auctioned off, begins this morning from 7:45-8:30 a.m. at Magnetic Hill School.