Kootenay Ice forward and Montreal Canadiens prospect Tim Bozon is in critical condition at a Saskatoon hospital after being diagnosed with Neisseria Meningitis.
Bozon was admitted to hospital on March 1, one day after scoring a goal in his team’s 4-2 win over the Blades. His parents, Philippe and Helene, made the trip from Switzerland to be by their son’s side a day later, eventually updating the league of their son’s status on Wednesday.
Bozon was placed in an induced coma as of Thursday, according to reports. His parents sent out a tweet from his personal Twitter account on Tuesday.
It’s a scary situation when a young person’s life is in danger. The condition is quite serious, resulting in death 10 per cent of the time, according to Wikipedia. It’s spread “through the exchange of saliva and other respiratory secretions during activities like coughing, sneezing, kissing and chewing on toys,” according to the Wikipedia page.
There’s not a great risk it would spread, Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, told CBC.
“If a person is sick with meningitis it’s not easy for anyone else to catch it,” Shahab told CBC. “So just being in the same room or shaking someone’s hand or sitting next to someone does not result in increased risk. It’s not really transferred in that. It’s only slightly high-risk for people who would be very close household contacts.”
Bozon’s condition is an obvious distraction for the Ice, who are playing with their teammate in their thoughts.
Fans in Cranbrook, B.C. sent their support to the family.
Kootenay GM Jeff Chynoweth joined Bozon’s family at the hospital this week.
Bozon remains in the thoughts and prayers of those around the league.
SPIRIT FORWARD MISSING
There’s yet another scary situation as Saginaw Spirit forward Terry Trafford remains missing since Monday, March 3.
The 20-year-old was last seen at 9:30 a.m. on March 3. Needless to say, it’s a nightmare for the young man’s parents.
Anyone with information is asked to call Saginaw’s police department at (989) 759-1229.
COUGARS SOLD? ICE NEXT?
The Prince George Cougars are reportedly sold to a group of local investors, including alumni and NHLers Eric Brewer and Dan Hamhuis.
The Prince George Citizen reports the transaction was finalized at $7-million, short of the $8-million price tag current owner Rick Brodsky had put on the team. This could conclude the long, drawn out ownership that had been rumoured to end for years. The Cougars, who have had many lean years on the ice and especially at the gate, are reportedly staying in Prince George for a minimum of two seasons. Should the team continue to lose money, new ownership may look to move the team.
The Citizen story also added a new layer to speculation of a team relocating to Winnipeg, suggesting the Kootenay Ice will call Winnipeg home as early as next season.
Sales in ownership of these two teams have been reported on a yearly basis the last half decade. For once, there seems to be legs to the rumours.
- Is Jack Eichel considering the CHL? Yes, according to reports. But don’t get excited – the American prospect is reportedly looking at playing in the Ontario Hockey League – so he can directly compete with Connor McDavid — which he’s not eligible to play in. The Saint John Sea Dogs, who own his CHL rights, certainly aren’t going to waive him to make it a possibility.
- The QMJHL has a third 50-goal man. Victoriaville’s Jean-Francois Plante overcame long odds after being drafted in the 11th round several years ago to achieve the feat, joining NHL drafted prospects Anthony Mantha and Anthony Duclair. Only seven players have scored 50 in the QMJHL over the past six seasons. Halifax’s Nikolaj Ehlers and Jean-Sebastien Dea each have 47 entering the season’s final week.
- Former Tri-City Americans goalie Aaron Baker just found out he holds the franchise record for saves in a season – which will soon be broken by Winnipeg Jets prospect Eric Comrie – when contacted by the Tri-City Herald’s Annie Fowler: “There are a few other stats I have from that season I don’t want… Now that I know I have the record, I can enjoy it for a couple of hours.” All these saves are coming at a “feel good” cost for Comrie.
- Max Domi watched the opening frame of Thursday’s pivotal matchup with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds entirely from the bench. The reason? “On-ice (infractions),” Knights assistant coach Dylan Hunter told the Free Press’s Ryan Pyette
- Are the Portland Winterhawks now the team to beat (again) after their 21-game winning streak was snapped recently?
- North Bay Battalion captain finally inked an NHL contract after going three drafts without hearing his name called. He was signed by the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, the same team where his idols, Joe Thornton and Battalion alumni Raffi Torres, play. “I have a big Joe Thornton poster in my room at home, so it’s pretty surreal to be in the same organization as those guys,” Goodrow told the Nugget.
- A petition is being signed to improve the quality of the webcast from the QMJHL. Considering the WHL and OHL webcasts offer features the QMJHL webcasts don’t, such as PVR functions like pause, rewind and fast-forward, the league may want to look into it.