Canucks: Thatcher Demko Misses Practice to Recover
The Vancouver Canucks' demanding early-season schedule is starting to impact their goaltenders. Thatcher Demko missed practice on Friday at Rogers Arena as the team prepared to face the Columbus Blue Jackets the next day.
With games scheduled on both Saturday and Sunday, against Columbus and the Colorado Avalanche respectively, there were doubts about Demko’s availability. To ensure sufficient rest, the Canucks called up goalie Jiri Patera from the AHL's Abbotsford team under emergency conditions.
Demko has not played since Monday’s game in Nashville, and following a day off on Thursday, concerns grew when his name came up as "absent from practice."
Canucks head coach Adam Foote explained after practice, "This is a case of a player who is in the midst of a very busy schedule needing some extra recovery time."
Fans of the Canucks who closely follow the team know how intense the season can be. The decision to call up a backup goalie highlights the team's effort to manage Demko’s workload carefully.
Summary
The Canucks are managing Thatcher Demko’s busy schedule by giving him extra rest and calling up Jiri Patera as backup to ensure the team remains prepared for back-to-back games.
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