Three Things You Should Know About Hockey...This Week.

Mumps Outbreak in the NHL

There has been a mumps outbreak in the NHL.  Multiple players were diagnosed with this disease.  Some of these players include Sidney Crosby, Beau Bennet, and Ryan Suter.  Bennet was the 15th player to be diagnosed with this disease during the outbreak, in the NHL.  Players from five teams have come down with the mumps.  The mumps has hit multiple people on the Ducks, Devils, Rangers, Wild, and the Penguins.  

This disease is transmitted through saliva.  People can have the mumps for two weeks without showing symptoms, but can be contagious the whole time.  Since hockey is a contact sport, it is very easy for players to catch this disease.  Players like sidney Crosby had to get a booster shot to help fight the symptoms.

Winter Classic 2015

The 2015 Winter Classic game will be taking place on January 1st 2015.  This game will be played at the Nationals Park in Washington D.C.  The game is going to be a hard one as the Washington Capitals take on the Chicago Blackhawks.   Captains Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals will be taking on Jonathan Towes and the Blackhawks.  

 This game was supposed to take place 2 years before that, but there was a 2012-2013 lockout.  This will be the second appearance at a winter classic game for both the Blackhawks and Capitals.  In 2009 the Blackhawks lost to the Detroit Red wings.  In 2011 the Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nathan Horton Back Injury

Nathan Horton of the Columbus Blue Jackets has suffered a tremendous back injury.  Nathan Horton is one of many players injured on the Blue Jacket's roster.  Nathan has played with the Boston Bruins, the Florida Panthers, and the Blue Jackets and has won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins.  Nathan was signed to a 7-year $37.1 contract with the Blue Jackets.  Now he is faced with a possible career ending back injury at age 29 in only his second season with the Blue Jackets.

Horton will have to get surgery but it will end his career.  Horton is dealing with constant pain.  No one should have to live like that.  Horton definitely doesn't want to have surgery.  Having the surgery would bring relief right away, but once has does it there is no going back.  That will be his career if this surgery takes place.  According to Horton the injury came out of nowhere while rehabbing his shoulder.  His injury is a mystery to everyone.