Griffin recovering after catching coronavirus

Griffin is one of two players from last season's Sheffield Steelers' squad known to have contracted Covid 19.

The Star revealed a few days ago that top points scorer Brendan Connolly had been a victim, while playing in America.

Connolly is resting up and in isolation, says Steelers.

Griffin, who turned 19 years old TODAY, on Friday, was not badly affected - and his main grievance currently is the frustration attached to not playing the game he loves.

The defenceman, once a member of Steelers' Apprentice Programme, played for Sheffield Steeldogs and Great Britain U20s last season, before deciding last July to sign up for Leeds Chiefs in the NIHL.

He's never been able to make his debut there, because of the pandemic.

"I was doing alright until the start of this year when nearly all of my family caught covid" says the teenager.

"Luckily we have all seemed to get over it and haven’t been affected too badly.

"I only lost my taste and smell. I’m not too sure really how we caught it because we hadn’t been anywhere and my family were working from home."

Griffin is desperate to get back on the ice - whether it is with Leeds or another team.

"If there was some kind of season and Leeds weren’t in it then I would be interested to see what options there were just to get some ice time.

"This is the longest break I’ve had in the near 11 years that I’ve been playing and to be honest I’d happily play for anyone right now if it meant I could get back on the ice."I haven’t personally heard any news on a season so I’m just doing what I can to prepare.

"Hopefully the EIHL can sort something out."

The former Bradford Bulldogs U18 captain described the lockdown as "a bit annoying, knowing what a good year it could have been this year.

"I just need to do what I can when we finally get back to some kind of normality and for when something starts whether it be February or September."