Vancouver Canucks say more players have mumps symptoms

The Vancouver Canucks announced the possibility of more cases of mumps with the team.

On Sunday, coach Willie Desjardins said forward Anton Rodin along with defenseman Ben Hutton were experiencing symptoms of mumps. Desjardins also said trainer Brian Hamilton was having similar issues.

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

Hutton played 22:58 and was a minus-2 in the team’s 4-1 Saturday loss to the San Jose Sharks.

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Vancouver’s situation with the mumps is the first known NHL issue with the virus since the 2014-15 season.

That year, the mumps hit several teams, took out stars around the league and led to player quarantines along with 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.

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

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.

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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.”

“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.”

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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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