The normal storylines at the Canadian junior team hockey camp in Red Deer would have revolved around whether goaltender Dylan Garand of Langford, with a strong early showing, was destined for the No. 1 role in the crease, and how former Victoria Grizzlies captain Alex Newhook from Boston College would fit on a team dominated by major-junior players.
But nothing about the camp is normal in a decidedly abnormal year. Garand, Newhook and the rest of the players are instead holed up in their hotel, one player to a room, in a 14-day quarantine after two unnamed players tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
The two infected players are asymptomatic, Hockey sa国际传媒 said during a Zoom conference call with reporters on Thursday.
The families of all the players are being kept informed daily, Hockey sa国际传媒 said.
鈥淭here was obviously concern [among the families], but those concerns have been limited by communication,鈥� said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams for Hockey sa国际传媒. 鈥淲e feel our communication has been great, and [families] believe wholeheartedly in the environment we鈥檝e created.鈥�
Virtual poker tournaments and quiz games are just some of the ways the players are being kept connected and engaged, along with experts speaking online about different sports topics and in-room workouts. The players themselves have provided many of the suggestions.
鈥淭he solutions and ideas from the players have been overwhelming and shown creativity,鈥� said Canadian team head coach Andre Tourigny.
鈥淗ow the players have bounced back is impressive. They have shown leadership and character. There was a problem pop up and they have shown the right attitude to find solutions.鈥�
Hockey sa国际传媒 said it had a strategy in place.
鈥淲e knew we might have to pivot. We have a solid Plan B 鈥� a plan we did not want to have to use,鈥� said Salmond.
But have to use it they must.
鈥淭he players have been incredible and have rallied around the team. These are high-performance athletes and people and are resilient,鈥� said Salmond.
The 2021 IIHF world junior tournament is set to begin Christmas Day in a bubble in Edmonton without fans. The Hockey sa国际传媒 officials were asked how confident they are the tournament can proceed safely with 10 national teams.
鈥淓dmonton will be a more secure protective environment,鈥� said Dean McIntosh, vice- president of events and 颅properties for Hockey sa国际传媒.
He said all the incoming teams will be quarantined at home for seven days and tested before leaving. Each team will have its own charter flight and be quarantined for five days after arrival in Edmonton. There will only be one player to a hotel room and players will be tested for COVID-19 every day after arrival.
鈥淲e will know where everyone is in the bubble at all times,鈥� said McIntosh.
鈥淲e feel strongly about our ability to deliver a safe event in Edmonton.鈥�
Asked if the two-week quarantine is a setback for holder sa国际传媒鈥檚 chances of defending the title, Tourigny replied: 鈥淣ever been there. Nobody before has had to stop for two weeks and restart. But players have missed entire seasons to injuries and returned and done well. We can do it.鈥�
The 2019 world juniors were held in Victoria and Vancouver and the 2020 tournament pre-COVID in the Czech Republic. The 2022 event will return to Edmonton and Red Deer when it is projected fans will be allowed into the arenas post-COVID.
