EDMONTON — The International Ice Hockey Federation says eight players from Germany's team at the world junior hockey championship have tested positive for COVID-19 inside the Edmonton bubble.

The IIHF says the Germans will all remain in quarantine until Thursday. The country is scheduled to open its tournament against Finland the following afternoon — Dec. 25 — before facing Canada on Boxing Day.

The quarantine means Germany, with a roster that includes Ottawa Senators prospect and 2020 No. 3 overall draft pick Tim Stuetzle, will miss exhibition games against Austria and the Czech Republic ahead of the annual under-20 event.

According to TSN's Ryan Rishaug, it sounds like Germany will be able to continue at the tournament despite the eight positives. It is possible that some of their players who tested positive could potentially return to play once their quarantine is completed. Rishaug adds that while tweaks to the pre-tournament schedule are expected, the tournament itself at this point will proceed as planned.

The IIHF also announced two members of Sweden's team staff have tested positive. The Swedes will stay in quarantine until Monday, with the exception of those exempt from serving longer periods based on previous positive tests that "provide a personal immunity and no threat of infection to others."

Sweden is scheduled to face Canada in an exhibition game Monday.

The IIHF says over 2,000 tests have been conducted on players, staff and game officials since entering the Edmonton bubble Sunday.

Teams without positive tests were eligible to begin training Friday.

The tournament is scheduled to begin Christmas Day — including that meeting between the Germans and Finns — at Rogers Place. The first exhibition games are slated for Sunday.

The NHL implemented similar bubbles, which are tightly controlled and include strict health and safety measures in hopes of keeping the coronavirus at bay, for the restart of its pandemic-delayed 2019-20 season this summer.

The league said it had zero positive results over more than two months.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2020.