Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko had a pretty good game in Vancouver’s opener against the Oilers on Wednesday, especially when you consider the circumstances.
Demko faced 22 Edmonton shots and only allowed one goal, but he was still pulled from the game in the third period. Why? Because he vomited into his mask, Canucks coach Rick Tocchet revealed after the game.
“He started to feel dehydrated,” Tocchet told reporters. “He didn’t really want to come out, but then when he puked in his mask, I said ‘you got to come out.’”
Tocchet said he was proud of Demko because “the guy sucked it up” despite not feeling well.
“He started to feel dehydrated. He didn’t really want to come out, but then when he puked in his mask, I said ‘you got to come out.’”
— Hunter Crowther (@HunterCrowther) October 12, 2023
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet on pulling goaltender Thatcher Demko vs the Oilers. pic.twitter.com/73YrcX2Ns8
Tocchet said there has been an illness spreading through the team, but you wouldn’t know it just judging by the results on the ice. Vancouver beat the Oilers 8–1 in the opener, led by four goals from Brock Boeser.
Demko isn’t the only Canucks goalie to suffer from gastrointestinal distress during a game. Famously, during a playoff game in 2007, Roberto Luongo was not on the ice at the start of overtime because he was in the bathroom, dealing with what he later told Sports Illustrated’s Alex Prewitt was “a little bit of a bellyache.”
At least Luongo was able to get to the bathroom in time. Demko wasn’t so fortunate.
