John Paddock has spent most of his life helping hockey teams compete for a place in the playoffs.
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This year he faced a very different fight; defeating COVID-19 during chemotherapy.
If Paddock’s name means anything to you, it might be because of the 32 games he played for the Quebec Nordiques in 1980-1981. However, he built his reputation more behind the bench than as a right winger.
Brandon, 68, from Manitoba, has coached 281 games for the Winnipeg Jets and 64 games for the Ottawa Senators. He also led the Hartford Wolfpack to a 2000 American Hockey League Calder Cup win.
Paddock, who is now the head coach and general manager of the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats, had to put his career on hold in February when he tested positive for COVID-19 two years after being diagnosed with cancer.
career paused
“I don’t know how to describe it other than it was bad,” the ex-striker told the Winnipeg Sun. You don’t have an immune system. You have no ammunition to face him.”
Despite adequate vaccination, Paddock became infected twice with the corona virus within a few months. It wasn’t until April that he began to recover and gradually re-learned how to do little everyday things that he had taken for granted, like walking or driving a car.
“It’s been less than two months since I started making progress,” he continued. What I can do has evolved drastically. I managed to run about five kilometers twice.”
Paddock quietly returned to his duties at the head of the Pats during his team’s spring training camp, which took place last weekend.
“I didn’t put my skates on,” he concluded. But I’ll make it eventually.”