Thomas Bordeleau cut from 2021 Team USA WJC roster following COVID-19 protocols
Bordeleau had prolonged exposure to another player who later tested positive for the coronavirus. Both have been deemed ineligible to play.
Though he was part of the team’s selection camp ahead of the 2021 World Juniors Championship, to be held in Edmonton, Alberta later this month, San Jose Sharks prospect and University of Michigan star forward Thomas Bordeleau was shockingly not listed on Team USA’s final 25-player roster announced on Saturday by USA Hockey.
Unfortunately, Boston Bruins prospect, Michigan teammate and Bordeleau’s roommate John Beecher tested positive for COVID-19 early Saturday morning. Due to Bordeleau’s exposure to Beecher, he was deemed ineligible to play in the tournament. So far, Bordeleau has not tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Boston Globe reported that the two players returned to Ann Arbor, where Beecher took a second test that came back negative. However, the pre-tournament protocols put forth by the IIHF will not allow a player to compete if one test comes back positive.
Bordeleau, 18, is a product of USA Hockey, playing the last two seasons with the US National Team Development Program. This would have been his World Juniors Championship debut.
The state of California, at least, is well-represented in this USA Hockey team. Calgary Flames goaltending prospect Dustin Wolf is from Gilroy, defenders Ryan Johnson and Cam York are from Irvine and Anaheim respectively and forward Brendan Brisson hails from Manhattan Beach. Four players are in the Anaheim Ducks system and three are with the Los Angeles Kings.
The tournament will begin with a preliminary round on Christmas Day (Dec. 25, 2020) through Dec. 31. Team USA will play its first preliminary matchup on Dec. 25 against Russia. The quarterfinals will be on Jan. 2, 2021, followed by the semifinals on Jan. 4. The Bronze and Gold Medal games will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
The complete roster is listed below.
TEAM USA 2021
Forwards
Matthew Berniers (2021 NHL Draft)
Brett Berard (New York Rangers, 2020)
Matthew Boldy (Minnesota Wild, 2019)
Bobby Brink* (Philadelphia Flyers, 2019)
Brendan Brisson (Vegas Golden Knights, 2020)
Cole Caufield* (Montreal Canadiens, 2019)
Sam Colangelo (Anaheim Ducks, 2020)
John Farinacci (Arizona Coyotes, 2019)
Arthur Kaliyev* (Los Angeles Kings, 2019)
Patrick Moynihan (New Jersey Devils, 2019)
Landon Slaggert (Chicago Blackhawks, 2020)
Alex Turcotte* (Los Angeles Kings, 2019)
Trevor Zegras* (Anaheim Ducks, 2019)
Defenders
Brock Faber (Los Angeles Kings, 2020)
Drew Helleson (Colorado Avalanche, 2019)
Ryan Johnson (Buffalo Sabres, 2019)
Tyle Kleven (Ottawa Senators, 2020)
Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks, 2019)
Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators, 2020)
Hunter Skinner (New York Rangers, 2019)
Henry Thrun (Anaheim Ducks, 2019)
Cam York* (Philadelphia Flyers, 2019)
Goaltenders
Spencer Knight* (Florida Panthers, 2019)
Logan Stein (2021 NHL Draft)
Dustin Wolf* (Calgary Flames, 2019)
* — denotes returning player for 2020 WJC