MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The wife of a youth hockey referee, who died of COVID-19, is believed to have contracted the virus while officiating games in Carver County.
Sixty-two-year-old Dan Culhane died in late February. His wife, Nancy Mitchell, also had the virus and later health officials reported that she had variant B.1.1.7, which was first identified in the UK and is considered highly contagious.
READ MORE: Minnesota is urging testing in Carver County amid a variant outbreak
“He loved the game itself. He loved the kids, especially the younger ones, who were kind of learning, ”Mitchell said.
For 20 years, Culhane established a bond with players, coaches and fellow referees. He was also a cancer survivor that doctors had said he could re-officiate games with caution.
Dan Culhane (credit: CBS)
“He took extra precautions. Multiple masks, electronic whistles, ”said Mitchell. “We’ve been extremely careful.”
But in February, both tested positive for COVID-19. As she got better, he gradually got worse and suffered a stroke.
“He was put on a fan for the procedure and never got out,” he said. “So it was very fast and very impactful, and I just don’t want any other family to go through it.”
Mitchell said she tested positive for the UK variant and believes her husband contracted the virus while officiating 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 county-related.
READ MORE: Outbreak of UK youth sports-related variants in Carver County, officials recommend a two-week break
“I have empathy for all parents and children, but I personally think they should at least pause and analyze it,” Mitchell said. “You may be fine, but you just don’t know who won’t be fine.”
In the meantime, he chooses to remember Culhane’s passion for the sport he loved.
“It’s such a sad part that he basically died participating in an activity he loved,” he said.
Dan Culhane (credit: CBS)
Eastern Carver County schools made some changes from Monday through March 21, including a break in all non-college winter sports and additional safety measures for college teams.
The district has not commented on Mitchell’s claims. There is no way to know for sure whether Culhane hired COVID-19 for his arbitral duties.
Carver County parents are pushing to keep sports open safely. Christina Jax, whose son plays college hockey, said she is concerned about what could pause children’s mental health in sports. He believes Carver County should not be isolated and wrote a letter to administrators detailing the reason.
“I don’t think it makes sense to just isolate this poor group of young athletes. If we do, we will have to make general statements for everyone and, in fact, be able to justify it statistically, ”said Jax.
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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 courts will continue to play.