The Chicago Blackhawks took part in a practice at Fifth Third Bank Ice Arena in Chicago today before heading to Detroit to take on the Red Wings for their final two-game series of the season tomorrow. Prior to practice, however, the Blackhawks were offered the chance to get a COVID-19 Vaccine shot.
And several of them took it.
Blackhawks players had the option of getting the vaccine today. pic.twitter.com/ELqsT09jrJ
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 14, 2021
After practice, Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton said “A good number” of players took the shot, but obviously couldn’t get into specifics.
Colliton on how many Blackhawks players opted to get the vaccine today: "I think it's a good number that took it. I got it, so obviously I'm in favor of it. Every single person that gets vaccinated is a step closer to getting back to normal both as a team and in public life."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 14, 2021
Chicago has been one of the teams in the NHL that has had “good fortune” when it comes to dealing with COVID this season. The most recent case was earlier this month when Brandon Hagel was placed on COVID protocol for about a day, but Chicago has had six players land on COVID protocol this season, with Lucas Wallmark, Adam Boqvist, Ryan Carpenter, Alex DeBrincat, and Nicolas Beaudin also landing on the list at different points this season.
The Blackhawks acquired Adam Gaudette at the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday from the Vancouver Canucks, who are going through one of the worst COVID outbreaks an NHL team has experienced this season. Gaudette went through COVID protocol while with the Canucks and has been cleared to play with the Blackhawks right away and was on the ice for practice in Chicago today.
It’s good to see that a decent amount of players and staff took the vaccine, it’s truly our best path towards getting back to a normal life, but it is disappointing that it wasn’t 100% taken across the board. We don’t know which vaccine was offered, but likely with the recent news concerning the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, it’s likely they were offered Pfizer or Moderna, which require second shots.