Two months before the Ice Hockey World Championships in Finland, international striker Lean Bergmann received bad news. He will miss the tournament with heart muscle inflammation. Is it the result of a Covid infection or a side effect of vaccination? The doctors are still guessing. Bergmann worries about the late effects.
National player Lean Bergmann has to take a break from sport for at least three months due to heart muscle inflammation and will therefore miss the Ice Hockey World Championships in Finland (May 13th to 29th). It is currently unclear when the Adler Mannheim striker from the German Ice Hockey League (DEL) will be able to return to action.
“This diagnosis is a big shock for us – and of course for Lean himself. He was on the right track after his leg injury and wanted to attack again in the playoffs,” said Jan-Axel Alavaara, Adler’s sports manager. Bergmann was injured in early March and was supposed to return after six to eight. But nothing will come of it.
For the 23-year-old miner, the diagnosis “came out of nowhere and was absolutely unexpected. Unfortunately, the doctors couldn’t tell me exactly whether the heart muscle inflammation was due to a corona infection or a side effect of the vaccination,” said the attacker: “But I really hope that she heals as predicted without long-term effects and that I can play again at the start of the next season.”
Alavaara emphasized that Bergmann needs time. “Myocarditis is not something to be trifled with. It is only considered cured when it has completely subsided,” explained the Swede: “Lean is in very good hands with our doctors and physiotherapists. We will do everything in our power to help him to support.” The Mannheim team also announced that Jason Bast would be out for up to six weeks due to a foot injury. The German-Canadian has scored eight goals and provided six assists this season.
