COVID-19 hits the Team Canada selection camp

The chances of several New York Rangers prospects of making Team Canada at the WJC are on hold

Two players at the Canadian World Junior training camp bubble have tested positive and all activities at camp have come to a halt.  The third intrasquad game was cancelled on Tuesday and there is nothing going on at the training camp in Red Deer, Alberta.  That means future New York Rangers Matthew Robertson, Dyland Garand and Braden Schneider are on hold after a promising start.

All three prospects are on Team White and had been on the winning side of their first two games.  A third game between Team White and Team Red was supposed to be played on Tuesday, but was cancelled after two players tested positive.  There’s no word on who the players are due to privacy concerns.

Here is the statement from Scott Salmond, the SVP of Canada’s national  teams:

“Hockey Canada confirmed earlier today that two players at Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp have tested positive for COVID-19, and have been placed in quarantine at the team hotel in Red Deer.”

“Upon learning of the positive test this morning, the decision was made to postpone the Red-White game scheduled for this morning at the Westerner Park Centrium, and to suspend all camp activities for today. As per Hockey Canada’s safety protocols, all players, coaches and staff members took mandatory COVID-19 tests upon arrival at camp and have continued to be tested regularly throughout the past ten days. For precautionary reasons, we will also ensure that all players and team personnel go through an additional test before resuming camp activities. The appropriate local and provincial health authorities have been made aware of the situation, and we will continue to work closely with Alberta Health Services. We will have no further comment at this time.”

The organization had taken pains to minimize risk.  All players are tested regularly and are in a virtual bubble with their movement restricted to the hotel and ice rink.  Several players were unable to play in the first games due to quarantine requirements.    That mostly involved players from the United States.

All three Rangers prospects are playing in Canada so they were not subject to the same quarantine restrictions.

Matthew Robertson (D) – 2019 2nd round – #49

Matthew Robertson was a second round selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft t #49 overall. He signed his Entry Level Contract last summer and impress at the Traverse City Tournament and at the Rangers’ training camp.  The 19 year old plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL and last season had 13 goals and 47 points in 60 games last season.

Robertson has played in both games.  He was scoreless in the first game, a 4-2 win for Team White.

In the second game, a 6-3 win, Robertson took a high sticking penalty late in the second period and was held off the scoresheet.

Dylan Garand (G) – 2020 4th round – #103

Goalie Dylan Garand in in his third year with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.  He played only the first half of the first game, but left with a shutout intact.

Garand is one of five goalies at the camp.  He split the first game with Brett Brochu of the London Knights who played the entire second game.

Braden Schneider (D) – 2020 1st round – #19

Braden Schneider is playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL after the Rangers drafted him late in the first round in October.

The highly touted Schneider did get on the scoresheet, assisting on Kirby Dach’s goal that gave Team White a 1-0 lead in the second match.   It was his point shot that set up the goal as Dach was able to put in the rebound.

TSN’s Craig Button took a look at Schneider pre-camp and said this:  “he has a fierce determination to make life uncomfortable for opponents, but his game is much more than just physical play.”

If you haven’t seen it, a couple weeks ago the Rangers tweeted out the view from the “war room” on draft night as the Rangers were about to select Schneider.  It’s worth a look.

There is no word on when the players will be able to get back on the ice.  Team Canada has six games scheduled against collegiate players from Canada over the next two weeks starting on Saturday.

The WJC is supposed to start on Christmas Day in Edmonton with all teams in a bubble set up similar to that of the NHL this summer.

The impact of the coronavirus on what was thought to be  a reasonably secure bubble has to be of concern to the NHL as they prepare to return to play.