Nizze Landén, the goalie coach for Sweden’s Under-20 World Junior Championship team, tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the team announced.
Swedish hockey reporter Uffe Bodin reported that the team has brought in U-18 coach Anders Eriksén to assist on account of the virus-related absences.
Landén received two negative tests on Sunday ahead of Sweden’s travels to Sundsvall for camp. But on Tuesday, subsequent testing revealed that he was positive for the novel coronavirus.
“First and foremost, it is an incredibly sad message to receive,” Landén said in a team statement. “Physically I feel good and have no symptoms, so it was not a result I expected. I have been isolated since I got the answer to the quick test and can (deliver) this message now.”
Sweden already has four team members — including Detroit Red Wings defence prospect William Wallinder — who are ineligible to compete in the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships because of positive COVID-19 tests.
Sweden is scheduled to face Canada in its first exhibition game in Edmonton on Dec. 21, before opening its tournament schedule against the Czech Republic on Dec. 26.
