The Victoriaville Tigers can continue to dream about Tristan Luneau. Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said the defenseman from Quebec will “likely” return to the QMJHL once he treats the infection that forced him to miss the World Junior Hockey Championships.
However, we perhaps shouldn't expect Luneau – who was traded to the Tigres from the Gatineau Olympics on Jan. 6 – to be back in Victoriaville tomorrow morning.
“It started with a virus and now we are monitoring the infection. There are still a few hurdles to overcome before Tristan can start playing hockey again this season,” said Verbeek, who was joined by Associated Press journalist Greg Beacham.
Luneau started the season in the NHL with the Ducks and everything indicated that the California organization planned to loan him to Junior Team Canada and then bring him back to the QMJHL for the second half of the season. But a mysterious virus puts a stop to almost all plans. On December 23, three days before the start of the World Juniors, Hockey Canada announced that the 19-year-old defenseman would not be able to participate in the tournament due to this infection.