Vancouver Canucks fans are feeling hopeful after seeing Thatcher Demko back on the ice in practice. A video shared by NHL insider Jeff Paterson shows Demko skating and facing shots during the team’s practice on Sunday.Paterson tweeted on X:"That is Lekkerimaki in light blue and Demko in net #Canucks."Following this, some fans shared their opinions and reacted positively to the clip.“I am not a doctor but if Demko can practice like this then perhaps it’s time to give it a go in a game…,” one fan said."Great seeing Demmer and Letter Kenny what this team needs is a better bottom 4 defence more than anything….Desharnais is not very good..," another fan wrote."Damn that is nice to see Demko moving like that," a fan said.Here are some more reactions from fans on X:"So surreal seeing Demko looking like Demko," one fan mentioned."Demko might be back faster then peoole think he is looking good," a fan shared their perspective."How many games will it take for Demko to recover top form? Historically a slow starter," another fan shared.Thatcher Demko's injury and more detailsThatcher Demko has been recovering from a "rare and unique" injury to his popliteus muscle, located behind the knee. He suffered the setback during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs in the first game against the Nashville Predators. Demko uses a reverse VH move, which may have contributed to the injury.Since then, Demko has been skating on his own and joined his teammates on the ice during the Canucks' California road trip. Sunday’s practice was his first full session with the team. While he didn’t do post-integration work in the video, it’s still a good sign for his recovery.In September, Demko spoke about the frustration of not knowing the full extent of his injury.“When I first felt the injury, obviously I wasn’t too sure what it was, but as we dived into some research and some things, it was a little bit ambiguous,” Demko said per Canucks Army.“It’s been a bit of a frustrating summer just trying to get some answers. Obviously we’ve talked to all the specialists we can around the world… and this is the information we’ve gathered. Myself, the staff, and the organization are fully confident that we’re on the right track.”Despite the challenges, Thatcher Demko and the Canucks staff are confident in his recovery.