After topping Slovakia in their first game of the 2022 World Junior Championships, Team USA will drop to a 1-1-0 record after having to forfeit today’s scheduled game against Switzerland. Due to a potential COVID outbreak on the U.S. team, the game was a forfeit and not postponed.
BREAKING:@usahockey has forfeited their game against @SwissIceHockey due to a a mandated team quarantine following a positive test result of two of its players.
More at https://t.co/dDceNHvTed#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/0WkEUif0m3
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 28, 2021
The U.S. is scheduled to play Sweden tomorrow, but that game is currently up in the air as more testing is conducted for the U.S. side.
If USA's positive player(s) pop another positive test, it is believed they would have to go into 10-day isolation following Canadian health protocols even if asymptomatic. Team may also have to isolate putting other games (like the SWE game) at risk. A lot up in the air right now
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 28, 2021
Four Blackhawks prospects are playing at this year’s World Junior Championships, with three of them (Landon Slaggert, Wyatt Kaiser, and Drew Commesso) playing for Team USA. Slaggert scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 3-2 win over Slovakia on Sunday, with Kaiser getting an assist on that goal. Commesso made 23-of-25 saves in the game and was named the player of the game for the U.S.
We will continue to follow updates for Team USA, who is defending their 2021 Gold Medal, at the World Junior Championships as they develop.