No new positive COVID-19 tests for players

The International Ice Hockey Federation says there have been no new positive tests for COVID-19 among players on the 10 teams at the world junior championship.

Since the teams entered the competition bubble last Sunday, 3,640 tests have been conducted on all players, staff, and game officials.

On Friday, the IIHF said eight German players and a pair of Swedish staff members had tested positive.

On Monday, the IIHF said all players and staff on Team Sweden have tested negative and will be released from quarantine, other than the two previous positive cases. Those two individuals will remain quarantined to Dec. 27.

One additional staff member from Germany also has tested positive and must remain in quarantine until Dec. 30.

Pre-tournament games start Tuesday at Rogers Place. The competition is scheduled to begin on Friday.

“We continue to have complete confidence in the operational and risk mitigation plan that was designed by our medical experts and scrutinized by all levels of government,” the event executive committee said in a statement.

“The advice and guidance that we have been given by Public Health and Alberta Health Services regarding the health and safety of the community and all participants has been instrumental, and we are encouraged by the results we are seeing from the ongoing testing.”