Hockey Canada receives positive news ahead of 2021 World Juniors

After being in quarantine for the last 14 days, Hockey Canada has received the go-ahead from the Alberta Health Department to resume activities in preparation for the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships.

According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the roster has been split into two teams, Red and White. Both teams will have two practices Tuesday, followed by games on Wednesday and Thursday. McKenzie went on to add that the final roster will be set no later than Friday, followed by Canada entering the Edmonton bubble on Sunday.

Team 🇨🇦 gets official clearance from Alberta Health to resume selection camp. Team White will practice today at 9:30 a.m. MT and 3:30 p.m. Team Red will be go at 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. https://t.co/yFVJffxPGi— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 8, 2020

The two Team 🇨🇦 players who tested positive two weeks ago will not be part of the return to play protocols as established by Alberta Health and Hockey Canada. In addition to those two players, three more will also be excluded from RTP, so 5 players in total heading home.— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 8, 2020

As part of RTP protocols, Team 🇨🇦 selection camp has shifted from its pre-quarantine status as a “protective environment” to “fully secured bubble format.” No media will attend practices/games, intra-squad games will not be streamed and no refs/linesmen/timekeepers permitted in.— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) December 8, 2020

While there is positive news, there also happens to be some unfortunate news to report. According to TSN's Ryan Rishaug, five players on Canada's preliminary roster are unfit to play, and have been sent home from camp. Those players are Defencemen:Matthew Robertson (NYR-2019), Daemon Hunt (MIN-2020), and Mason Millman (PHI-2019), as well as Forwards:Ridly Greig (OTT-2020), and Xavier Simoneau (2021).

Robertson, Millman, Simoneau, Hunt, Greig all listed as unfit to play, and unable to continue camp according to Scott Salmond of Hockey Canada. Say these were not hockey decisions, but based on health protocols.

Team will have red-white games to help determine roster of 25.— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) December 8, 2020

Canada will kick-off exhibition play on December 21st against Sweden, and then on December 23rd against Russia. Both games will be played at 6 pm ET/4 pm MT (local time).

Canada's quest for back-to-back gold medals will begin on Boxing Day against Germany at 6 pm ET/4 pm MT (local time).

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