Players, staff, media and all associated with the tournament entered mandatory COVID-19 quarantine. All communication has been electronic and the day has been broken up with periodic knocks – sometimes for food, sometimes for water. Shortly after lunch, players were led through a workout via Zoom thanks to USA Hockey’s director of sports science, Brian Galivan. It was, ironically, the first active workout the players took part in together, each from their own room. Then came a knock for the day’s COVID-19 test, followed by dinner shortly thereafter.
With the tournament’s opening games just days away, everyone is eagerly anticipating the chance to reconvene and come together as a team. And fast. Sixteen members of the 2021 U.S. Men’s National Team know what it’s like to come together in a short period of time. They understand the weight a USA crest carries on the jersey. For the other 10 players, it will be the first time they ever skate for Team USA in an IIHF event. That, the staff says, means almost just as much as having the experience of previously playing for Team USA.
There’s nothing like representing your country. It’s a unique year with unique circumstances, and tomorrow’s first skate in Latvia will officially kick off the opportunity of a lifetime at the 2021 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
