Canucks make an announcement on Thatcher Demko

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will return to the ice tomorrow at Canucks practice.

The 28-year-old has skated independently but has yet to take the ice with his teammates since leaving a game on March 9 with a lower-body injury.

While the Canucks have been able to hang on to first place in the Pacific Division without their star goaltender, the team has struggled and hovered around .500 since his injury.

According to insiders, the earliest Demko will play is Saturday night against the Oilers, the third last game of the Canucks' season.


The Canucks have secured home-ice advantage in the playoffs, but the Oilers are within spitting distance of first place in the Pacific, and the Canucks would love to have Demko to help hold them off.

The team isn't rushing their star goaltender back, but his return to practice is a good sign for his recovery.