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In a year when many people have learned new skills, either out of necessity or just to pass the time, Mitch Love is fast becoming an expert on hotel room conversions.
The Team Canada assistant coach has been quarantined along with the rest of the team since November. 23, after two positive COVID-19 test results resulted in Hockey Canada being forced to suspend its Junior Ice Hockey World Championship selection camp for two weeks.
« I learned what it takes to change a hotel room in terms of sheets and towels and keep things clean because we don’t have housekeeping services here, » Love said.
It’s another reminder of how different life can be during a pandemic, but love takes it all.
« When I’m not home and dad and with my daughter right now, there is no other place I’d rather work than work with these kids when we’re back on the ice, » said he.
The two week quarantine has forced the Canadian coaching team to get creative, but there has been no shortage of ways to keep the players occupied even though they haven’t been able to train.
« It’s funny, we haven’t spent any time on hockey content during this time and are in quarantine. We had some local Canadian celebrities just having fun with the boys, ”said Love.
On the guest list were Arkell’s front man Max Kerman, the players of the women’s national soccer team Stephanie Labbe and Kadeisha Buchanan, and a musician whose identity Love did not want to reveal.
« I can’t mention his name for confidentiality reasons, but it was on and it was great. I’ll let people find out who that was. I just talk to our guys about his career and his passion for hockey and his excitement to see this tournament, ”said Love.
When not indulging in celebrity stories, the team has used Zoom for group training.
When camp was suspended, a member of the Canadian staff procured 60 stationary bikes from the wider Red Deer community. Every coach and player now has a bike in their room.
Despite the team’s inability to practice, Love isn’t concerned about his readiness for the tournament. The selection camp was already up and running a week before the quarantine, so players could better understand Team Canada’s systems and philosophy.
« We are comfortable where we are. Of course, if we get out of this we need to brush up our boys on it and add a few things that we missed out on during this hiatus, but these are smart kids. You are an elite hockey player. You seem to get this stuff pretty quickly, ”said Love.
And while some have voiced concerns that quarantine so close to the start of the tournament could put Team Canada at a disadvantage, Love doesn’t see it that way.
« Our boys will get out of this, they will be refreshed, they will be hungry to get back on the ice, they will be eager to play a game against other competition and we only have to do it one day after the competition. » others to ensure that we as staff and a group of players are prepared to play our first game on Aug.. to play, ”he said.
Subject to further positive tests, the team can return to the ice in December. 7th.
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Junior Ice Hockey World Championships, Canadian Junior National Ice Hockey Team
World News – CA – Team Canada is using the quarantine during the junior selection camp
Ref: https://globalnews.ca
