Team Canada To Undergo 14-Day Quarantine After Two Players Test Positive For COVID-19

Photo: Rob Wallator/Hockey Canada

Hockey Canada announced on Wednesday evening that all players, coaches and staff participating in Team Canada’s U20 selection camp currently being held in Red Deer, Alberta will undergo a 14-day quarantine as required by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services.

On Tuesday it was announced that two of the 46 players participating in this years selection camp for the 2021 World Juniors Championship tested positive for COVID-19. As per government order, any person coming in close contact with someone testing positive must quarantine for 14 days. Hockey Canada confirmed Wednesday night that they would adhere to the local order.

Assuming all players, coaches and staff began their quarantine on Tuesday, the camp would be able to re-start camp activities on December 7. That would leave about a week of additional training before the team is to depart for Edmonton in advance of the 2021 World Junior Championship.

From a hockey perspective, nobody has any idea how Team Canada will look coming out of this on Dec. 7 (the 14-day quarantine began on Nov. 23 after the two players tested positive).

“I guess the best time to answer that will be Dec, 7,” said head coach Andre Tourigny. “But I’m pretty confident. You see players who’ve been out with an injury for a year and they come back and perform two weeks later. We can do it.”

Canada needs to cut its roster to 25 players (down from 46) by the time they enter the Edmonton bubble on Dec. 13. That gives them six days to pick the team, while having to take it easy in the first few days of practice because they’ve all been sitting on the bed watching TV for two weeks.

STATEMENT FROM HOCKEY CANADA

RED DEER, Alta. – The following is a statement on behalf of Hockey Canada from Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams, on Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp.

“Following the confirmation of two positive tests among players at Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp on Monday, Hockey Canada has confirmed that all players, coaches and staff are considered close contacts and are therefore subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period under Alberta Health Services’ Order 05-2020. Hockey Canada will continue to abide by all protocols and guidelines set forth by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, as it is not exempt from Order 05-2020, and will put a pause on all camp activities until the quarantine period is complete.

Upon learning of the positive tests on Monday, the decision was made to suspend all camp activities and quarantine players and staff immediately. As per Hockey Canada’s safety protocols, all players, coaches and staff members will go through additional testing before resuming any camp activities. We remain in constant communication with the appropriate health authorities, and we appreciate and thank Alberta Health Services for its dedication to ensuring the health and safety of our players, staff and the community at large.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Junior Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook and Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_WJC.

Capitals prospects Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre were invited to the camp and have been fully participating in camp activities since the camp opened on November 16.

Players, coaches and staff all took mandatory COVID-19 tests upon arrival at the camp and have been tested regularly while there.

A call went out and the Red Deer fitness community pulled through!

Team effort to keep players and staff moving in quarantine. Grateful for local support. 💪🚴 pic.twitter.com/dcHutdGddd

— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) November 28, 2020

Hockey Canada is in the midst of their selection camp ahead of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton that opens on Christmas Day.