Penguins' Beau Bennett diagnosed with mumps
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Beau Bennett has been diagnosed with the mumps, the team announced Tuesday.
No other details were announced as of Tuesday evening, but Bennett had been showing symptoms of the mumps since Monday, the team said. Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said Bennett was quarantined after his symptoms developed.
Bennett was among a group of Penguins players that visited the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh last week. Hospital officials have said they are testing any hospital patients and staff who may have come into contact with him or the other players.
"We feel bad about that. We tried to do a good thing and go to the Children's Hospital and do different things in the community. At that point in time, obviously he was not tested to be positive," Rutherford said of Bennett.
Bennett was already ruled out indefinitely while recovering from a lower-body injury suffered Nov. 24 against the Boston Bruins. He has played in seven games this season, tallying three points on one goal and two assists.
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On Sunday, the Penguins announced captain Sidney Crosby also has the mumps, a viral infection that causes swelling in the salivary glands.
Crosby missed Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he is expected back soon. The Penguins will host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
Among the other notable NHL players who have been diagnosed with the mumps are Anaheim ducks players Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin, as well as Minnesota Wild defensemen Jonas Broadin, Marco Scandella and Ryan Suter. According to Stephen Whyno of The Canadian Press, 15 NHL players have been diagnosed with the mumps.
- Mike Fiammetta