The Canucks’ hopes of having an excellent debut to their season currently rely on Arturs Silovs; the Latvian’s issued a statement that may jeopardize it all.
Thatcher Demko will, as of right now, not be available to kick things off for the Canucks, as an undisclosed injury is keeping him from the ice. Now additional bad news just struck the Canucks. Arturs Silovs, expected to be Latvia’s top goaltender for the Olympic qualifying tournament, was surprisingly left off the roster, sparking concerns about his health. This comes after news that Vancouver Canucks’ starting goaltender, Thatcher Demko, might miss training camp and the preseason, leaving the Canucks potentially shorthanded in the net.
Silovs gained significant attention after leading Latvia to a historic bronze medal at the 2023 World Championship, where he was also named tournament MVP. His performance made him a lock for Latvia’s Olympic qualifier this weekend. However, Latvia’s head coach, Harijs Vitolins, announced on Wednesday that Silovs would not participate in the tournament, citing concerns about overworking him and the risk of developing a “chronic injury.”
This decision raises questions, especially considering that as recently as Monday, Vitolins had indicated Silovs was ready to play. The sudden change has led to speculation about whether the Canucks might have intervened, especially with Demko’s uncertain status, or if Silovs sustained a minor injury in training that necessitated rest to prevent long-term issues.
NHL.com’s Kevin Woodley reported that Canucks GM Patrik Allvin was initially supportive of Silovs playing in the tournament, expressing excitement about his participation as part of his preseason preparation. The abrupt decision to rest Silovs suggests something might have changed in the last two weeks, either concerning Demko’s recovery or Silovs’ health.
With three weeks remaining until training camp, there’s still time for both goaltenders to get healthy, but the situation is undoubtedly concerning for the Canucks as they approach the start of the season.
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