Big Troubles in team...
Last testing showed two more infected players William Wallinder and Albin Grewe (added to the already positive William Eklund and Karl Henriksson from past week) and three other members of the coaching staff, including the head coach Tomas Montén !!!
The Swedish team is struggling with big coronavirus problem only three days before leaving for the world championship to Edmonton, Canada. So far, it is not even certain whether the defenders of the bronze medals will travel overseas to the championship at all !!!
The Swedes temporarily disbanded the coaching team. Altogether with the head coach Montén, also his assistant Anders Lundberg and the video coach Adam Almqvist are all also positive. "Our situation is not looking good at the moment. We are in talks with the representatives of the International Hockey Federation and we regularly inform them about our condition. It is evolving from day to day, even from hour to hour. We are doing what we can, but the certainty that we will fly to Canada... we don't have it now yet, "said Johan Stark, Secretary General of the Swedish Hockey Association (SIF), for Aftonbladet https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hockey/a/6zP57L/ytterligare-covid-fall-i-juniorkronorna.
Coach Montén even laughed at first after he was informed about his positive test. After a while, however, when he realized it is a sad fact...
Now he will for sure go to stay in a 7-day quarantine in Sundsvall. "Are you kidding me? is it for real ?, or has someone exchanged my PCR test? I feel fine and now I have to stay in quarantine? A few days before departure to the overseas?", Montén said. "This is a completely new situation. We will also consider my distance coaching. But this is not just about me," he added.
The general secretary of SIF did not rule out the option that the world championship will take place without one of the favorites - the swedish team. "There are several alternatives in the game. We have to remain responsible towards the players, coaches, but also our opponents and the IIHF. Of course, we are considering replacing more players and coaches. The management of Swedish hockey has already announced that it has called the captain of the under 18 national team, Anders Eriksen, to the team."