Flu knocks out hockey game

By Christy Marsters

H1N1 cases led to a cancellation of a game between the Windsor Royals and Brookfield Elks October 30.

Dan Boyd, president of the Junior B Royals, says the Friday match was postponed by mutual agreement between the teams after the Elks reported two confirmed cases of H1N1 among its players.

There was no need to spread the illness and it is understandable the Elks could not ice a team, Boyd says. “Still, this being only a second home game of the season, (the cancellation) knocked me back a bit; there’s no question about it.”

With ice times tight at the Windsor Exhibition Arena, it is hard to make up games and it puts pressure on the executive, Boyd says. “We could’ve asked (the Elks) to forfeit but you cannot play hard ball like that. We’re in a pandemic; no mistakes about it.”

The Royals have been encouraged to not share water bottles and other basic instructions for staying healthy, but there is really not much else that can be done except to follow the advice of the Department of Health, Boyd says. “The League wants to take every precaution. This was a first case like this (within the NSJHL) as far as I know.”

Boyd hopes people are not too alarmed and come out for the next home game November 6. “I hope there will be a good crowd here when we play against Cape Breton Canadians next Friday night.”