Sapurji: Emmerton leaves camp with mono

Brampton Battalion forward Cory Emmerton has been diagnosed with mono according to a Hockey Canada spokesperson.

Emmerton, a second-round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, has yet to leave Calgary and Canadian coach Craig Hartsburg is expected to address the situation after tonight's Red-White intrasquad game.

As some of you may have read, I interviewed Emmerton yesterday via phone from Calgary for a story in today's Toronto Star. I think the only person more shocked than me by this news is probably Cory Emmerton.

Here's the story.

I feel terrible for him, when we spoke yesterday you could tell he was really looking forward to this opportunity. He's a 19-year-old, so this was his last chance to represent Canada in a tournament -- like many of us -- he's been watching since he was a kid.

Emmerton becomes the second player sent home from camp after Kitchener's Nick Spaling was diagnosed with the disease on Monday.

Here's wishing Emmerton and Spaling a speedy recovery.

UPDATE: Here's what Hartsburg told Donna Spencer of The Canadian Press after tonight's Red-White game about the mono situation:

"We’ve talked to the doctors about that and there’s no real cause for concern," Hartsburg said. "Obviously we’re taking every precaution we can, but we don’t think it’s going to be a problem."