Remember when you were a kid and you got to stay in a hotel?  It was so exciting.  You'd go to the pool and order pizza and jump on the bed because you could.  The novelty wore off for me a couple of years into my 15 years traveling with our Moose Jaw Warriors.  

I think about that today after talking to Warriors GM Alan Millar yesterday.  He's with Team Canada up in Red Deer, preparing for the World Junior Hockey Championships. 

He and every single member of our team, every player and staff member, are by themselves, in their own hotel rooms, locked down.  This, after two players tested positive for COVID-19 last week. 

Can you imagine being by yourself in a hotel room for two weeks.  You can't leave.  They must feel like prisoners. 

Oh, they've all got an exercise bike, good food delivered to their rooms and cell phones for meetings and interaction but, still, it can't be easy. 

There's an old cliche every hockey player has heard from every coach they've ever had - "You've gotta pay the price." 

Every one of those boys will remember this and the price they paid for the love of the game and to entertain us. 

The World Junior Hockey Championship is scheduled to begin on Christmas Day.