The German national ice hockey team canceled the first day of training in phase three of preparation for the 2021 IIHF World Championships in Riga, Latvia (May 21 to June 6) as a precaution after a suspected case of corona in a staff member. After assistant coach Matt McIlvane's suspicious test, all players, coaches and supervisors of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund's selection immediately went to their rooms in the hotel and will remain there for the time being.
A subsequent PCR test on McIlvane confirmed the positive result on Tuesday evening. McIlvane previously had a negative PCR test on Friday and Sunday and a negative rapid test late Monday afternoon. In addition, the American has already received a vaccination. He was immediately isolated and can only participate online for now.
In addition, all players and support staff who were involved in phase two of the World Cup preparations last completed a PCR test on Friday, which was consistently negative. In addition, all team and staff members for phase three also arrived with a fresh negative PCR test result and those who arrived in Nuremberg by Monday evening also had a negative result from a rapid test. It wasn't until Tuesday morning, the actual arrival time for this part of the World Cup preparation, that there was one noticeable rehearsal.
The team is scheduled to have an off-ice day on Wednesday anyway, and nothing will change in this plan. The next ice training session is scheduled for Thursday. Until the matter is clarified, the players will keep fit with online training and room workouts.