Due to a positive coronavirus test of one of the hockey players, the Czech team ended up in quarantine at the Under-20 World Championships in Canada. Today’s match with Finland, which was to start at 8 pm CET, was won in favor of the Northerners with a score of 1: 0.
The match between Slovakia and Russia also ended by default. The winner of the tournament was awarded the tournament 1: 0 to the Slovaks, the Russians are in quarantine.
Depending on the situation in the Czech team, it will be decided whether the selection of coach Karel Mlejnek will be able to start his last match of the basic group A in Edmonton against Austria. The match is scheduled for Thursday from 22:30 CET. The Czechs have only one point so far.
“The IIHF and the tournament directorate will decide on the way forward. So far we have information that if today’s PCR tests of members of the Czech team are negative, we should start the final match of the group stage against Austria tomorrow according to the original schedule of the tournament,” said Czech spokesman Ondřej Kalát.
“It is a very unpleasant situation for all of us. But since we are undergoing the Junior World Championships in difficult covid conditions for the second year in a row, we were also prepared for a scenario that such a situation may come,” said Mlejnek. “The players were already tactically prepared and looking forward to the match with Finland, but after the information from this morning, we immediately reacted, changed the program and we are already 100% focused on the match with Austria,” added the Czech coach.
The team remains in accordance with the organizers’ instructions in the hotel rooms. The quarantine applies to all its players and members of the implementation team. The expedition thus returned to the same regime as applied immediately upon arrival in Canada.
“The local hotel service brings food to us at the door of the room. The Canadian medical team will also bypass the rooms in the morning and test all members of the Czech team by PCR. According to the internal agreement, we will not publish the name of the player with a positive test yet, “Kalát explained.
Preparations for Austria, including a video conference, will take place online.
“Austria has played a total of three matches, including the preparation, so we have enough material to prepare the game plan. We believe that our PCR tests today will be negative and that we will be able to start tomorrow. Last but not least, I would like to say that this was surprising news because all our players and members of the implementation team follow the regulations of the organizers and respect the tournament bubble, “Mlejnek emphasized.
This is the second default result at the championship. The USA team faced the same problem as the Czechs before the match with the Swiss and also scored a 0: 1 defeat. In the team of gold defenders from the last championship, two players had a positive test for covid-19. Paradoxically, for the same reason, the Swiss could not complete a single preparatory match before the start of the tournament against the Czechs.
According to the program, the Americans are to take part in the night from 3:30 CET against the Swedes. But the fate of the duel has not yet been decided. However, the International Hockey Federation has already announced that as part of the extension of the coronavirus protocol, all referees on the ice will have to wear a veil until revoked.
Under-20 World Hockey Championships in Canada:
Group A:
Canada – Austria 11: 2 (5: 0, 1: 1, 5: 1)
Goals and recordings: 6. K. Johnson (Perfetti, Power), 7. Cormier (Guenther, Greig), 9. Stankoven (McTavish, Seeley), 16. Bedard (Neighbors, S. Wright), 17. Bedard (Desnoyers, Cuylle), 27. Bedard (Desnoyers), 41. Perfetti (M. Bourque), 43. Bedard (Cuylle, Desnoyers), 45. McTavish (Guenther, Guhle), 46. McTavish (Seeley, Power), 47. M. Bourque (Perfetti) – 40. Necesany (Rohrer), 53. Böhm (Wallner, Reinbacher). Judges: Fernandez, Rekucki (both USA) – Mackey (CAN), Špůr (Czech Republic). Exclusion: 5: 1. Utilization: 2: 1. Attendance: 3862.
CR – Finland 0: 1 by default.
Table:
| 1. | Finland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:2 | 6 |
| 2. | Canada | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17:5 | 6 |
| 3. | Germany | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 2 |
| 4. | CR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4:9 | 1 |
| 5. | Austria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:18 | 0 |
Group B:
Switzerland – USA 1: 0 by default
Table:
| 1. | Sweden | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9:3 | 6 |
| 2. | USA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
| 3. | Mask | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7:8 | 3 |
| 4. | Switzerland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 |
| 5. | Slovakia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
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