Defending champion USA forfeits game vs. Switzerland at world juniors after positive COVID-19 tests

RED DEER, Alberta – The USA was forced to forfeit its game at the world junior championship against Switzerland on Tuesday after two players tested positive for the coronavirus.

Those positive COVID-19 test results led to a mandated team quarantine. The USA, as a result, was unable to play Tuesday under tournament rules.

“We’re extremely disappointed, especially for our players,” U.S. national junior team general manager John Vanbiesbrouck said in a statement. “We’re operating an ever-changing landscape, and that’s very challenging. We’ve followed the tournament protocol from the outside and will continue to do everything we can to ensure players have the opportunity to compete at the world junior championship.”

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The International Ice Hockey Federation said the team’s quarantine status will be evaluated later to determine the status of the Americans’ next game scheduled for Wednesday against Sweden. Switzerland was awarded a 1-0 victory against the USA from the forfeit.

The USA is the defending champion at the tournament for the world’s best men’s hockey players under age 20. It beat Slovakia 3-0 Sunday night in its first preliminary round game.