CHL DAILY: MORE GAMES CANCELLED

PRESS RELEASE
BOUCHERVILLE – The Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gilles Courteau, today announced that three additional games have been postponed due to the H1N1 virus.

The following games have been postponed: Shawinigan at Acadie-Bathurst (Friday), Baie-Comeau at P.E.I. (Friday) and Shawinigan at P.E.I. (Saturday). An announcement will be forthcoming as to when the games will be replayed.

"Since a few players from both the Shawinigan Cataractes and P.E.I. Rocket organizations have contracted the virus, we have decided to postpone three games as per outlined in our prevention protocol. These steps have been taken after consulting with our chief physician, Dr. Sylvain Boutet, and both team doctors. Thankfully, none of the players need to be hospitalized. Our goal is to remain proactive in regards to the health and security of our players. We will not take any unnecessary risks. I would like to thank both organizations for their cooperation in this matter," said the Commissioner.

FANELLI RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL

CANADIAN PRESS

Kitchener Rangers defenceman Ben Fanelli is continuing his recovery from a frightening bodycheck at home following his release from Hamilton General Hospital over the weekend.

The 16-year-old suffered skull and facial fractures when his helmet flew off and he fell unconscious to the ice after a heavy hit into the boards from Erie Otters forward Michael Liambas during an Oct. 30 contest.

Fanelli had been in hospital since, starting off in critical condition in intensive care before steadily improving. He was released late Friday night.

“This is obviously an emotional day for the Fanelli family, our organization and community and really for the entire Ontario Hockey League’s players and fans,” Steve Bienkowski, COO of the Rangers, said in a statement on the team’s website. “It is still very early in Ben’s recovery that will include out-patient treatments at the hospital along with additional supporting treatments at home.”

Fanelli’s mother, Susan, added in the statement: “The support from the Kitchener Rangers organization has been wonderful. We are so appreciative it is hard to express.”

The Ontario Hockey League came down hard on Liambas, suspending him for the entire season and effectively ending the 20-year-old’s junior hockey career.

Liambas was assessed a match penalty for boarding after the hit.

HONORARY CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Guy Carbonneau and Guy Lafleur are stepping back behind the bench as honorary Quebec Major Junior Hockey League captains for the 2009 Super Series.

Carbonneau, a retired NHL star and former coach of the Montreal Canadiens, will take part in the opening game of the series in Drummondville, Que., on Nov. 16. Lafleur, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, will be in attendance for Game 2 in Shawinigan on Nov. 18. The Super Series pits regional teams of CHL all-stars against a team of Russians and is part of the identification process for Canada's national junior team final selection camp. Three Sea Dogs - Michael Kirkpatrick, Yann Sauve and Simon Despres - will suit up for Team QMJHL.

GETTING READY FOR THE WORST

The Shawinigan Cataractes are the latest team to be hit with the H1N1 virus. The QMJHL has postponed one of their games and pushed ahead another to a later date. The Cataractes join the Moncton Wildcats as team who have had significant health problems this season.

Saint John is preparing for the virus and is one of only two teams not to get the vaccine already in the maritimes according to news reports. The other team is the Halifax Mooseheads who have been hit by the flu the last couple weeks. The Sea Dogs will be waiting along with the rest of the general public to get the shot says Sea Dogs athletic therapist Jeff Kelly.

“If they (players) are not feeling well they need to let me know,” said Kelly during the first intermission of Wednesday’s game on News 88.9 FM. “We haven’t been in touch with Moncton yet” he said. Kelly did say however equipment manager David Kelly has talked with the equipment team for the Wildcats.

It’s not like the Sea Dogs have not been preparing. Jeff Kelly said he has been preparing for H1N1 since August with director of hockey operations Mike Kelly. Hand sanitizing machines have been placed in the dressing room along with educating the players on proper ways to keep germs off.

Each player has their own water bottle with their number placed on a piece of tape. But contrary to popular belief, Kelly believes the bigger issue is with towel use. There will be about 100 towels on the bench during a game for one time use only. David Kelly will clean them during the intermission.

“So far luck has been on our side,” said Jeff Kelly. “(H1N1) kind of just crept up on us with the issue in Moncton.”

No games involving the Sea Dogs have been affected so far this season. The team has also remained healthy with the exception of physical wounds. Tomas Jurco missed a few games with chicken pox and Nicholas Pard has had flu like symptoms.