Canucks say Stecher has mumps, four teammates have symptoms

The Vancouver Canucks announced that defenseman Troy Stecher has tested positive for the mumps. Also according to the team, defensemen Chris Tanev and Nikita Tryamkin along with forwards Mike Chaput and Markus Granlund have each presented symptoms of the virus.

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“We’re taking this very seriously given how easily mumps can spread,” said Canucks General Manager Jim Benning in a statement provided by the team. “We’ll continue to follow all protocols in accordance with Vancouver Coastal Health guidelines in order to prevent further infection.”

The Canucks said that Vancouver Coastal Health authorities were at Rogers Arena on Friday to screen players and staff and immunize “those who need it.”

Back in 2014-15, the mumps hit several teams, took out stars around the league and led to player quarantines and canceled hospital visits. High profile NHLers who battled the mumps that season included Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter and Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mumps symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis). These can take several days to subside.

Players that season started to come down with the mumps in October of 2014 with the last case being reported on Jan. 11, 2015.

“It came right away for me. My face started growing and the fever came at night. Those four days were probably the worst days in my life so far,” then Devils defenseman Adam Larsson said in 2014 of his experience with the mumps. “It was really bad at one point. I couldn’t eat or anything. I’m glad to be back. I just have to work my energy level up a little bit to where I can play.”

Crosby’s case sent shockwaves around the NHL in part because he conducted an interview with a swollen cheek, a common symptom of the mumps.

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Because of the 2014-15 mumps outbreak, clubs and players have noted that they have a better sense of how to lessen the problem. For example the Ducks used separate and clean water bottles while players did their best to make sure they stayed hygienic.

“It comes down to even the most basic stuff like washing your hands and touching other guys’ equipment, putting your hand in their gloves. Stuff like that is stuff we needed to avoid with how close we are,” former Ducks forward Kyle Palmieri said in 2015. “Every day we’re here four-to-five hours with each other and you go on the road and you go on an airplane together and you’re even tighter.”

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper

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