Most players back on ice
For Dermott and Kerfoot, recovering from COVID ‘felt like an eternity’
The Maple Leafs were looking more and more like a whole team Tuesday, as they welcomed back No. 1 goalie Jack Campbell and several other players from COVID-19 protocols.
But the pace at which they become whole again remains a feeling-out process.
For defenceman Travis Dermott and forward Alex Kerfoot, recovery from the virus has been a mental challenge as well as physical.
“It felt like an eternity being away from the rink, being away from the guys,” Dermott said after his first practice Tuesday. “So happy to see that guys are slowly coming back in here, and that we have that core group of guys that were fighting it off pretty strongly here.”
The Leafs, who haven’t played since Dec. 14, are preparing to host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena. They also had head coach Sheldon Keefe running practice for the first time since the ordeal began during their west coast trip — which was cut short Dec. 18 in Vancouver, after three of four games were postponed — and Campbell back in net.
Forwards David Kämpf, Ilya Mikheyev and William Nylander remain on the COVID list. On defence, T.J. Brodie also returned Tuesday, but Morgan Rielly, Rasmus Sandin and Jake Muzzin are still out.
For Dermott, known for his positive approach, 10 days spent in protocols were a challenge.
“The last few days have been interesting to say the least,” he said. “I hope everyone had a good holiday season, but mine was a little bit different.
“COVID hit me in Vancouver, and then it was a couple of days’ adventure trying to get back (to Toronto). Then from there I actually felt pretty good. So, it was just one night for me in Vancouver that was a little ugly. It was a little stressful waiting for that negative test. But here we are now, and I was able get it early enough that I was able to see some family for the holiday season.”
But even that was turned upside down.
“I was back for a couple of days … I tested positive on the 18th, and on the 23rd I tested negative … I was ready to host my whole family coming over for Christmas, but that got stopped pretty quickly. Just that mixed with games being cancelled, not knowing when I could come back to the rink or when I was going to test negative. That’s what made the last few days interesting.”
Kerfoot tested positive in Vancouver as well, but opted to stay there for the rest of his time in quarantine: “I have no one back home in Toronto. I’d be coming home to an empty apartment.”
Both Dermott and Kerfoot expressed hope for the Leafs going forward, and for society as the virus continues to spread.
“Hopefully now that I’ve had it, I can be good for a little bit here,” Dermott said. “I know it’s possible to get it back again, but hopefully now that I’ve gone through it a little bit, I’ve got my antibodies working with me and I can get back to working … Stuff’s going to happen and we just have to be ready for it. I’m cognizant of what’s going on in the world (but) you can just do what you can every day, keep yourself and everyone around you as safe as possible, and try to get some work done in the meantime.”
Added Kerfoot: “Obviously this virus, the way it’s mutated, is supersuper contagious … You can be following all the precautions and still get it. So, everyone’s got to deal with it.”