<p>The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> had some re-enforcements back at practice today as goaltender Thatcher Demko rejoined the club.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thatcher Demko on the ice with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> teammates at UBC this morning. One of three goalies taking part <a href="https://t.co/fjeDuvvfp0">pic.twitter.com/fjeDuvvfp0</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) <a href="https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1900611673129652575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Demko sustained a <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-thatcher-demko-exits-injury-vs-toronto-maple-leafs-not-return">lower-body injury in the Canucks&#8217; final game</a> before the 4 Nations Faceoff on February 8 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It has been one day shy of five weeks (34 days) since Canucks fans last saw Demko take the ice at a Canucks practice.</p>
<p>He only participated in 35 minutes of today&#8217;s practice, but given Demko&#8217;s lengthy injury, that was a planned shortened practice.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">per team plan, Thatcher Demko’s first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> practice in 5 weeks comes to a prescribed early ending. Skated with group for about 35 minutes. Was actively involved. Expected to ramp things up in days ahead</p>
<p>&mdash; Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) <a href="https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1900619342397710344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet briefly spoke on his goaltender&#8217;s return to practice:</p>
<p>&#8220;I think he did three drills, and I think the next practice, he might be full-go next practice. I&#8217;m not 100% sure on that, but he felt pretty good today.&#8221;</p>
<p>Demko has been battling injuries this season. After suffering a popliteus injury in the opening game of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators, Demko would not make his 2024-2025 season debut on December 10 against the St. Louis Blues. He stopped 21 of 25 shots against in a losing overtime effort.</p>
<p>The 2014 second-round pick played seven games before he was then injured again in a game against the Seattle Kraken. Demko just missed two games before returning as a backup for Kevin Lankinen against the Washington Capitals and returned the following game against the Carolina Hurricanes.</p>
<p>It was a struggle returning to form for Demko, as he held a 1-4 record with a 3.65 goals against average and a .848 save percentage over that span. After sitting out for two straight games, Demko looked to return to form in the following four games. He posted a 3-1 record with a 1.28 goals against average and a .932 save percentage and one shutout in the four games before his injury.</p>
<p>In the midst of a playoff race, the Canucks are fighting for every point possible. This resulted in the team&#8217;s relying on Lankinen in back-to-back games against the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/instant-reaction-vancouver-canucks-comeback-falls-short-4-2-loss-montreal-canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/instant-reaction-quinn-hughes-elias-pettersson-lead-vancouver-canucks-shootout-win-calgary-flames">Calgary Flames.</a></p>
<p>There is still no timeline on Demko&#8217;s return to game action.</p>
<p>Watch some raw footage of Demko at today&#8217;s Canucks practice:</p>
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Raw Footage: Thatcher Demko participates in Canucks practice (March 14, 2025)" width="1424" height="801" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B0npvRbBksQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>


The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> had some re-enforcements back at practice today as goaltender Thatcher Demko rejoined the club.
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https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1900611673129652575

Demko sustained a <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-thatcher-demko-exits-injury-vs-toronto-maple-leafs-not-return">lower-body injury in the Canucks' final game</a> before the 4 Nations Faceoff on February 8 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It has been one day shy of five weeks (34 days) since Canucks fans last saw Demko take the ice at a Canucks practice.

He only participated in 35 minutes of today's practice, but given Demko's lengthy injury, that was a planned shortened practice.

https://twitter.com/patersonjeff/status/1900619342397710344

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet briefly spoke on his goaltender's return to practice:

"I think he did three drills, and I think the next practice, he might be full-go next practice. I'm not 100% sure on that, but he felt pretty good today."

Demko has been battling injuries this season. After suffering a popliteus injury in the opening game of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators, Demko would not make his 2024-2025 season debut on December 10 against the St. Louis Blues. He stopped 21 of 25 shots against in a losing overtime effort.

The 2014 second-round pick played seven games before he was then injured again in a game against the Seattle Kraken. Demko just missed two games before returning as a backup for Kevin Lankinen against the Washington Capitals and returned the following game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

It was a struggle returning to form for Demko, as he held a 1-4 record with a 3.65 goals against average and a .848 save percentage over that span. After sitting out for two straight games, Demko looked to return to form in the following four games. He posted a 3-1 record with a 1.28 goals against average and a .932 save percentage and one shutout in the four games before his injury.

In the midst of a playoff race, the Canucks are fighting for every point possible. This resulted in the team's relying on Lankinen in back-to-back games against the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/instant-reaction-vancouver-canucks-comeback-falls-short-4-2-loss-montreal-canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/instant-reaction-quinn-hughes-elias-pettersson-lead-vancouver-canucks-shootout-win-calgary-flames">Calgary Flames.</a>

There is still no timeline on Demko's return to game action.

Watch some raw footage of Demko at today's Canucks practice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0npvRbBksQ

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