Junior hockey: Canadian team cuts five because of coronavirus

Canada’s top junior male hockey players returned to the ice Tuesday following a 14-day quarantine, although there were fewer of them.

Five players were released from Canada’s selection camp roster in Red Deer, Alta., because they were “unfit to continue to play based on returnto-play protocols,” according to Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of national teams.

Canada’s camp halted Nov. 26 after two players and one noncore staff member tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Defencemen Matthew Robertson, Mason Millman and Daemon Hunt and forwards Ridly Greig and Xavier Simoneau were sent home before camp resumed.

“Those five players, obviously a very, very difficult position and situation,” Salmond said on a conference call. “This is not a hockey decision. This is a health decision based on return-toplay protocols. They were unable to continue with camp today. Feel horribly for those kids.”

The world junior hockey championship opens Dec. 25 in Edmonton.

The nine other international teams are scheduled to arrive by charter flight Sunday. Some are already minus players and coaches because of the virus.

Any player, coach or team staff member who tested positive for the virus after Nov. 29 is ineligible to enter Edmonton’s bubble.