U.S. ladies’s hockey coach John Wroblewski sidelined by COVID-19
BUFFALO, N.Y. — America ladies’s nationwide hockey workforce, which is able to characteristic 18 returning Olympians, took the ice for the primary time Sunday to organize for the world championships with out new coach John Wroblewski, who examined constructive for COVID-19.
Wroblewski examined constructive Saturday, USA Hockey spokeswoman Melissa Katz mentioned, and can coach remotely whereas spending a 10-day stretch in self-isolation. Ought to he be cleared, Wroblewski would journey individually to hitch the workforce in Denmark, the place the U.S. opens the 10-nation match in opposition to Japan on Aug. 25.
“The COVID information is unlucky, however I am going to take a look at the constructive aspect. I obtained an incredible take a look at the general image this week, and now I get to take away myself and course of it whereas nonetheless making workforce choices,” Wroblewski wrote in a textual content to The Related Press.
Earlier than testing constructive, Wroblewski had an opportunity to satisfy the gamers at a sequence of practices final week involving Underneath-18, faculty and nationwide workforce members.
“I am excited to take this window to create growth plans for a few of our gamers that they’ll begin to work on even through the match,” he added.
He mentioned one other profit is by having assistant coaches Josh Sciba and Shelley Looney run follow, it can permit them to turn into extra accustomed to the techniques Wroblewski has launched, and assist additional develop their rapport with gamers.
Wroblewski was employed Might 31 to switch Joel Johnson, who coached the workforce to a silver medal on the Beijing Winter Video games in February. Johnson stepped down after one 12 months as a part of his dedication to educate the College of St. Thomas ladies’s program.
The workforce is scheduled to journey to Denmark on Thursday following a pre-tournament camp in Buffalo, New York.
“It is enterprise as regular. I believe everyone is aware of their job,” mentioned ahead Hilary Knight, who might be competing in her twelfth world championship.
“Clearly, it is a massive miss. He is a brand new coach and he is not right here for the primary week or so. However he does his finest to Zoom in and simply make it work,” she added. “That is simply the identify the sport on this match. If one thing occurs, you have got to have the ability to modify and adapt and hold transferring ahead.”
The U.S. roster is led by Knight, whose 47 objectives and 80 factors are world championship workforce data, and Kendall Coyne Schofield, who might be making her ninth match look.
There are solely 5 gamers who didn’t compete in Beijing, the place the Individuals misplaced 3-2 to Canada. However ahead Lacey Eden and goalie Aerin Frankel had been members of the U.S. workforce that obtained silver following a 3-2 time beyond regulation loss to Canada in final 12 months’s world championships.
The one true newcomers named to the roster are forwards Taylor Heise (College of Minnesota) and Hannah Bilka (Boston Faculty), and Cornell College defender Rory Guilday.
Wroblewski spent two seasons teaching the Los Angeles Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, earlier than stepping down for private causes. The 41-year-old is finest recognized for his 4 years on the Nationwide Group Improvement Program, the place he oversaw groups which produced 29 NHL draft picks.
