Toronto, ON- According to a report from TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, and later confirmed by Hockey Canada, the University of Alberta Golden Bears will not be playing the Canadian World Junior team on Nov. 28/29 as scheduled. Team Canada has reported positive COVID-19 tests and will quarantine for 14 days.
Canada initially had two non-core staff members test positive for the virus, and later reported that a pair of players also tested positive. The intrasquad game scheduled for Tuesday night was cancelled, and the players have now been instructed to quarantine for 14 days. While the two games against the Mount Royal Cougars are yet to be called off, it is likely they will be as well.
The Hockey Canada Selection Camp in Red Deer has been taking place in a sequestered bubble, yet the virus still managed to find its the way in. The IIHF World Junior Championship is scheduled to start on Christmas Day in a secure Edmonton bubble.
While the two-week period will overlap Dec. 5/6, the dates MRU is scheduled to play, Team Canada has an unconfirmed U SPORTS opponent on Dec. 13/14. That opponent was rumoured to be U Calgary, but now could include one or both of MRU and/or Alberta.