Q & A with Kamloops Blazers Trainer Colin "Toledo" Robinson

Kamloops Blazers trainer thoughts on the H1N1 flu

Q: How is H1N1 affecting the Kamloops Blazers?

A: I don’t think its affecting us right now. There are bigger things for us to worry about right now. Its definitely there though, knock on wood it hasn’t affected us yet. We are just continuing are regular routine and will deal with it if we have to.

Q: What is the hockey club doing to prevent it?

A: We have been changing lots of different things. We are using and changing lots of the bench towels during games and practices. We are rotating towels out and have new ones there during the TV time outs. Everyone is using personalized water bottles in the dressing room and on the ice. We have been sanitizing different things in the dressing room like the countertops, door handles, etc. For the most part, we are just preaching the same way you do to your kids at home by telling the kids to wash your hands and we have hand sanitizer everywhere.

Q: How is this affecting the WHL?

A: It is affecting the league quite a bit actually. I have been taking lots of phone calls and emails from other trainers around the league trying to figure out what the safest way is to provide a healthy environment. Being a travelling team, we aren’t in control of the water bottles; we are not in control of the towels. There have been requirements from the league that have been sent out about making sure that we bleach the water bottles and that we rotate the towels. They want to make sure that we are all doing the right steps to make sure everybody is looked after.

Q: What is more concerning, H1N1 or the regular flu?

A: Well obviously right now the H1N1 is a concern. It’s affecting the whole world, not just Canada; unfortunately people are losing their lives to it. The flu is the flu and H1N1 I think it will just become a type of flu in this society once they eventually get it under control. Obviously right now though, H1N1 is the hot topic.

Q: What is your opinion on the Calgary Flames situation?

A: I think that someone made a mistake, and someone has paid for that mistake. Now its time to move on and make sure that we get the vaccine to the people that are in need of it the most, and then take care of everyone else after.