ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears’ season ended two months ago when the ECHL shut down. Players have gone their separate ways for an extra-long offseason.
Like the rest of us, they’re dealing with the anxieties that go along with the coronavirus pandemic. One player has a little more to deal with.
On the surface, defenseman Rich Boyd looks the part of a big, strong professional athlete. Underneath, the 24-year-old has a weakened immune system, compromised by Crohn’s disease.
It’s a digestive condition Boyd has managed since his early teens. He’s managed it so well, it has never interfered with hockey. “Knowing what my body can and can’t take, whether it’s food, stress, nerves, and stuff like that,” said Boyd, “I know what triggers my