The mumps outbreak that has taken the NHL by surprise now appears to be making its way to the American Hockey League ranks.
The New York Rangers, who have had both Tanner Glass and Derick Brassard test positive for mumps this season, announced that Joey Crabb, a player with the club's minor league affiliate in Hartford, Connecticut, is in isolation from his AHL team and is undergoing testing for pumps. The team's head coach, Ken Gernander, also is being isolated for five days and is being tested for the virus.
The Rangers also announced Thursday that forward Lee Stempniak is being tested and will be away from the team for five days.
The Rangers have been among the most proactive teams in trying to further prevent transmission of the disease. As the New York Post first reported, the club is now making sure that no players share hotel rooms on the road, as an extra precaution.
The organization has not yet instituted such a policy at the AHL level, and it remains unclear if it will do so.
AHL officials told ESPN.com's Scott Burnside that clubs are being advised to remain in touch with their parent clubs and follow the same protocol in place at the NHL level.
So far, 15 NHL players from five teams have been diagnosed with the mumps. Crabb would be the first case in the AHL.
Meanwhile, an intern with the Penguins radio broadcast crew also been diagnosed with mumps, a source with the team confirmed.
