“Don’t think there’s a way to keep your mind off of it” – Ivan Provorov frustrated over NHL’s COVID-19 protocols

“Don’t think there’s a way to keep your mind off of it” – Ivan Provorov frustrated over NHL’s COVID-19 protocols

Ivan Provorov

Philadelphia Flyers’ Ivan Provorov found himself in an undesirable position after being forced to sit out for the first time in his professional career. Not just one, but the Russian professional ice hockey defenceman will miss three games in a row. 

However, the 25-year-old isn’t happy with the reason for which his streak of playing in 403 consecutive games, came to an end. Provorov pointedly expressed his frustration with the league’s COVID protocol following Wednesday’s practice. He further reckoned that out of action despite being willing and fully fit, didn’t go well with him. 

“I don’t think there’s a way to keep your mind off of it. You’re sitting at home and your team’s playing,” Provorov said. “Is it tough? Yeah, you’re willing to play through anything — any injury, any illness. Then here, you get maybe a regular flu, not even, and then somebody tells you you can’t come back when you feel fine. Especially when you’re trying to go out there and help your team win and take pride in that.

FS Video

“Why are they not letting us play or cancelling games now?”

The NHL star also went on to say that having to sit because of a broken bone or a similar type of injury makes sense. But he raised questions over not letting the players play or cancelling games just because of a ‘flu’.

“If it’s a broken bone or a broken leg or something like that, then at least you can say, ‘OK, yeah, I can’t play through that and I can live with that.’ But if it’s just a flu that has a 99.9 per cent survival rate, then everyone should play. Because when other teams play against us with the stomach flu, for some reason they’re not cancelling games. So why are they not letting us play or cancelling games now?

“I don’t know. Something’s got to change and hopefully, it’s going to change soon.,” he added.

Also Read | WATCH – Sidney Crosby makes a heartwarming gesture towards paralyzed Delaware hockey star Brian Page