Hockey wife Ref, who died of COVID, believes she contracted it during Carver Co. games – WCCO

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The wife of a young hockey referee, who died of COVID-19, believes she contracted the virus while officiating at games in Carver County.

Dan Culhane, 62, died at the end of February. His wife, Nancy Mitchell, also contracted the virus and health officials later said she had the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in the UK and is believed to be very contagious.

READ MORE: Minnesota urges testing in Carver County amid variant outbreak

“He loved the game itself. He loved children, especially the younger ones who were just learning, ”Mitchell said.

For 20 years, Culhane has forged bonds with players, coaches and fellow referees. He was also a cancer survivor who had been told by doctors that he could referee games again, with precautions.

“He took extra precautions. Multiple masks, electronic whistles, ”Mitchell said. “We have been extremely careful.”

But in February, they both tested positive for COVID-19. As she got better, he gradually got worse and had a stroke.

“He was put on a ventilator for the procedure and never came out,” she said. “So it was very quick and very shocking, and I just don’t, I don’t want another family going through this.”

Mitchell said she tested positive for the UK variant and believed her husband contracted the virus while umpiring youth hockey games in Victoria and Waconia. Last week, the Minnesota Department of Health recommended a two-week break for youth sports in Carver County. MDH said 27 cases of the COVID-19 variant are now linked to the county.

READ MORE: UK variant outbreak linked to youth sports in County Carver, officials recommend 2 week break

“I empathize with all the parents and the kids, but I personally think they should at least pause and analyze this,” Mitchell said. “You might be fine, but you just don’t know what’s wrong.”

In the meantime, she chooses to remember Culhane’s passion for the sport he loved.

“That’s a part that is so sad is that, you know, he died participating in an activity that he loved,” she said.

Schools in East Carver County have made some changes from Monday through March 21, including a hiatus from all non-varsity winter sports and additional safety measures for varsity teams.

The district has not commented on Mitchell’s claims. There is no way to know for sure if Culhane contracted COVID-19 from his referee duties.

Parents in Carver County are pushing to keep the sport safe and open. Christina Jax, whose son plays varsity hockey, said she worried about what a break might do for children’s mental health in the sport. She believes Carver County should not be isolated and has written a letter to administrators explaining why.

“I don’t think it makes sense to just isolate this poor group of young athletes. If we want to do it, we have to make broad statements for everyone and be able to justify it statistically, ”Jax said.

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Last week, the Chaska-Chanhassen Hockey Association said last week that unless there is a direct order from the governor, Minnesota Hockey or community rinks, they will continue to play.