Hockey Canada releases 5 players ‘unfit to play’ from world junior camp
Posted Dec 8, 2020 12:19 pm.
Last Updated Dec 8, 2020 12:22 pm.
RED DEER — As Hockey Canada resumes its world junior preparation after a 14-day quarantine, five players who were deemed “unfit to play” have been released from the selection camp.
According to Hockey Canada VP of Operations Scott Salmond, those five players are forwards Xavier Simoneau and Ridly Greig and defencemen Matthew Robertson, Mason Millman and Daemon Hunt.
Hockey Canada's Scott Salmond confirms five players have left world junior selection camp because they are "unfit to play". 41 are left.
He hopes all teams will be healthy enough to get to Edmonton by the 13th to begin the #WorldJuniors on Dec. 25. pic.twitter.com/4LyAnN5s33
— Sandra Prusina (@sprusina) December 8, 2020
The camp roster now stands at 41 players with 16 more cuts needed before the weekend to reach the 25 player threshold required for the tournament.
READ MORE: Canada World Junior selection camp on hold following COVID-19
Canada isn’t the only federation that’s experienced COVID-19 issues in the lead-up to the tournament.
Germany, Sweden and the United States have also had to release players from their preliminary rosters due to positive COVID-19 tests, with Sweden losing four players and having an outbreak in the coach’s room.
"We all know what's at stake. No one wants to take any chances to put us in jeopardy," Salmond says. #WorldJuniors
— Sandra Prusina (@sprusina) December 8, 2020
All 10 countries competing are required to report to Edmonton by Dec. 13.
