Thatcher Demko and his medical team have spent the last few months scouring the globe, trying to find other hockey players whoB次元官网网址檝e dealt with the same muscle injury the Vancouver Canucks goalie is currently working through.

It turns out DemkoB次元官网网址檚 situation is exceptionally unique.

While they found about five soccer players with the same lower-body ailment, they could not find a single other hockey player.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been wild,B次元官网网址� Demko said Thursday. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 been part of the frustration, just not having a ton of information and youB次元官网网址檙e kind of just going in blindfolded. And it can be scary at times.B次元官网网址�

The 28-year-old all star was not on the ice with his teammates Thursday as the Canucks started training camp in Penticton, B.C., but he skated on his own before the sessions began.

When, exactly, heB次元官网网址檒l be ready to play remains to be seen.

B次元官网网址淚 would say that weB次元官网网址檙e on a great trajectory right now,B次元官网网址� the netminder said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 the most confident that IB次元官网网址檝e been in the rehab process up to date.B次元官网网址�

Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season, despite missing several weeks with a knee injury.

He first felt the current injury during VancouverB次元官网网址檚 first playoff game last season, a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators where he made 29 saves.

The ailment kept Demko out for the rest of the post-season as the Canucks bested the Predators in a six-game set before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of a second-round series.

If Vancouver had made it through to the Western Conference final, Demko said he likely would have played B次元官网网址� whether he was completely ready or not.

B次元官网网址淎s a competitor, you kind of lie to yourself in a playoff situation and I thought maybe I was a little further ahead than I was in hindsight,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 will say that I kind of hit a bit of a wall in the summer as far as recovery went. And we did see a little bit of a lack of progress there for a couple of months. B次元官网网址� But I would say the last two or three weeks, weB次元官网网址檝e seen a ton of progress.B次元官网网址�

Recovering hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a linear process, Demko said, and being sidelined for training camp was never part of the plan.

B次元官网网址淚 think missing playoff games last year was definitely the low point in my career mentally, spiritually,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f you had asked me when I was going home for the summer if IB次元官网网址檇 be ready for camp, I would have said B次元官网网址榊eah, 100 per cent.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 sit around and think poor me that IB次元官网网址檓 not out there. Obviously, I want to be out there. I want to be competing with the guys. I want to be leading by example, I want to help the young guys coming in. B次元官网网址� But this is the hand IB次元官网网址檓 dealing with right now.B次元官网网址�

Uncertainty around the injury has brought a lot of frustration, Demko added, particularly when he canB次元官网网址檛 get on the ground to play with his one-year-old son.

Still, he believes that heading into his eighth NHL season, heB次元官网网址檒l get back to B次元官网网址�100 per cent.B次元官网网址�

Maintaining that form, though, may require some tweaks to his training regime.

B次元官网网址淚 think it comes down to just a little bit of maturity. Quite frankly, I just kind of have one gear and thatB次元官网网址檚 just to go as hard as I can and try to get better every day,B次元官网网址� Demko said. B次元官网网址淎nd IB次元官网网址檓 just learning that thereB次元官网网址檚 different ways to get better and maintain your system of play and make sure that you stay sharp and at the same time as taking care of your body.B次元官网网址�