Alex Stalock is likely to miss all of 2021-22 due to a heart condition developed after contracting COVID-19

On Nov. 19, Stalock was tested for the coronavirus in order to get cleared to officially enter the Wild’s TRIA Rink practice facility in order to get ready for the upcoming hockey season. The next day, at 3 o’clock, he was driving to his friend’s cabin with his wife and three children when the Wild team doctor called to tell him he tested positive for the virus. Stalock’s wife, Felicia, immediately put a mask on herself and their children, and the family turned around to return to the Twin Cities.

Still, Stalock didn’t believe he had the virus. He had no symptoms and maintains he still never had a single symptom from having the virus.

In fact, after returning to the Twin Cities, Stalock said he had multiple negative tests and never once had another positive test.

He thought it had to be a false positive and asked to get clearance to the Wild’s practice facility.

But following NHL protocol, doctors told him he first needed to go through a cardiac screening even though he was symptom-free.

Stalock took an EKG and echocardiogram figuring it was just a formality and, bluntly, a waste of time. But doctors immediately noticed an abnormality and ordered an MRI to get a better look at his heart.

In simple terms, myocarditis is a disease that causes inflammation of the heart muscle. This inflammation enlarges and weakens the heart, creates scar tissue, and forces it to work harder to circulate blood and oxygen throughout the body.

While we often associate cardiovascular conditions with elderly populations, myocarditis can affect anyone, including young adults, children and infants. In fact, it most often affects otherwise healthy, young, athletic types with the high-risk population being those of ages from puberty through their early 30’s, affecting males twice as often as females. Myocarditis is the 3^rd leading cause of Sudden Death in children and young adults.