Evan Frustaglio was remembered by his hockey coach Tuesday, Oct. 27 as a "terrific kid" and a talented young forward."This is such a hard time for our team," said Al Reisman, coach of the Greater Toronto Hockey League's (GTHL) Mississauga North Stars minor bantam AA team that Evan played for.
"Evan was a handsome young man and a good hockey player...He had a lot of skill and a lot of style. I'll never forget watching him skate; the things he could do with a puck. But does any of that matter anymore?"
The Etobicoke boy, 13, died Monday at St. Joseph's Health Centre, due to complications from the H1N1 virus.
At a Toronto Public Health (TPH) news conference held Tuesday Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, said "It's important to emphasize in this situation that while the boy's illness is an example of the severity this flu can take on, it does not mean those in close contact with him are at higher risk of contracting H1N1."
Reisman, who was with Evan and his mother this past weekend at a hockey tournament in London, Ont., said the teen had been complaining of a sore back all week, but played on regardless.
"But in London, (his sickness) progressed and he got a sore throat as well. His mother gave him something, and while he didn't play as much, he still did everything the other kids did - he was swimming in the pool, in the hot tub, out to the restaurants. They're a pretty tight group of players."
Since the weekend, a number of Evan's teammates have also developed flu symptoms, leading parents to fear the spread of the virus amongst the players, Reisman said. While one player has been quarantined until Friday, another has been put on Tamiflu, an antiviral drug that slows the spread of influenza.
At the same news conference, Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's Medical Officer of Health, had this advice to parents who want to pull their children out of extra-curricular activities: "It's important that we keep living our lives, this illness is upon us. It's a different kind of flu, but it's still the flu."
John Gardner, president of the GTHL, urged parents not to panic in the wake of the news of Evan's passing.
"The big thing here is to keep our emotions in check, despite how tragic the situation is. We don't want anyone to overreact," he said, noting the league has cancelled Evan's team's next two games to allow the players to recoup and come to terms with the loss.
Gardner said the league notified all its teams in September of the virus prevention protocol provided by Hockey Canada's chief medical officer.
"It's unfortunate that everyone's systems are different and there's no telling how one might pick these things up," he said. "The best thing for our players to do is exercise caution in terms of cleanliness and hand washing."
Reisman, who visited the hospital with flu symptoms himself this week before hearing of Evan's death, said he kept his own kids home from school Tuesday as a precaution. While they don't play for the North Stars, his children were also at the London tournament this past weekend.
"This has been an ordeal," a sombre Reisman said, adding the GTHL plans to bring a crisis councillor in to speak with his players in small groups in the near future. "This is going to take some time to get over."
By Tuesday morning, close to 550 of Evan's friends, teammates, and classmates had joined a Facebook memorial group in his honour, leaving messages of support to his family.
"When I heard this happened i had no idea it was you, i can't believe this at all," wrote Alicia McCarron. "You'll be greatly missed by all your friends and family, always in my thoughts&prayers (heart) rip bud."
Wrote Andrew Bortolus: "RIP ur were a great friend to me and a great hockey player. you always made me laugh and u will never be forgotten as long as i live man."
Dr. McKeown went on to say that "Most flu illness is mild, however severe illness and death are part of this pandemic and vaccination is the best way to protect the population, especially those who are vulnerable."
The vaccine is 90 per cent effective in preventing illness according to a press release.
For more information on H1N1 visit www.toronto.ca/health