Games cancelled in Moncton; QMJHL preventive measures in place over H1N1

[CatatonicMoose]

BOUCHERVILLE, Wednesday, November 4, 2009 – The Commissioner of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Gilles Courteau, today confirmed that the League will follow the preventive measures recommended by public health officials in regards to the H1N1 pandemic and that an updated prevention protocol will be sent to the League’s eighteen franchises in light of recent events in Moncton.

"We received confirmation from the Moncton Wildcats organization yesterday that the two infected players and the others who have shown symptoms have been removed and isolated as recommended by public health officials. QMJHL head physician Dr. Sylvain Boutet and team Doctor Martin Robichaud have advised us that there have been no further complications regarding the health of the afflicted players and that none necessitate hospitalizing. Nevertheless, the players and certain members of the team’s staff will be quarantined for the next seven days. As such, the Moncton Wildcats’ games this week-end are cancelled. We will keep monitoring the situation closely and, in the near future, we will look at different scenarios to reschedule the games. In closing, the Wildcats organization was very proactive and their management team deserves a lot of credit," said the Commissioner.

Dr. Sylvain Boutet recommended that all eighteen clubs continue to maintain the high sanitary standards set forth in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s prevention protocol which was communicated to teams several weeks ago.

"We would like to take this opportunity to encourage teams and their staff to maintain preventive measures and we recommend that they receive the vaccine while remaining vigilant to signs pointing to the appearance of an outbreak. The QMJHL community is no different than the general populace in regards to the H1N1 virus. We must follow the recommendations of public health officials in regards to vaccination, detection and treatment of this pandemic."