Via Aftonbladet’s Mattias Karlsson, Red Wings prospect Albin Grewe spoke to SVT.se’s Hannes Nyberg and Dusan Umicevic, questioning the validity of the positive coronavirus test that prevented him from playing for Sweden’s 2021 World Junior Championship team. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:
The Talent was stopped from playing in the World Junior Championship: “I do not trust the tests”
Djurgarden’s 19-year-old talent Albin Grewe was stopped from attending the World Junior Championship due to a positive coronavirus test. After the positive test, he received many negative test results, and now he directs criticism at the entire system.
“It’s obvious that I don’t have the coronavirus now. I don’t trust those tests,” he says to SVT Sport.
Albin Grewe is one of four players from the original World Junior Championship team that won’t go to Edmonton due to a positive coronavirus test.
“I think it sucks. That it’s decided in such a way. I took two tests, a PCR and a quick test. The PCR had a positive result. It was a shock. I already had the coronavirus,” says the prospect.
“We are completely convinced”
After the positive test, several tests were done in a short time, and all gave negative results. It created frustration for Grewe.
“We’re completely convinced that there was something wrong with the lab. It’s going to be weird. Strange rules. I would have accepted it if more than one test was positive,” he says, and he continues:
“I’ve been looking forward to being part of this, and have worked hard for it. When it happens like this, it just sucks. I think I should join the team. That the rules should have been different from the beginning.”
National team doctor Ryan Allenby and Grewe’s agent tried to get an appeal through, but it was rejected.
“Claes [Elefak, his agent] and Ryan Allenby really tried to make the IIHF understand that I am healthy, but they were rock hard with their rules.”
“Really treat them to it”
Grewe is now focusing on cheering on Sweden at the WJC and helping Djurgarden.
“I only care about two things now. One is that Sweden wins a medal at the WJC, that I’ll be able to treat to my friends for that. And I want to return to games with Djurgarden quickly.”
