Avalanche encounters COVID-19 concerns to begin on-ice training camp

Roland McKeown of the Carolina Hurricanes skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 27, 2018 in Newark, N.J.Avalanche free-agent depth signings Stefan Matteau and Roland McKeown are in COVID-19 protocol and did not participate in Thursday’s first day of on-ice training camp, which ended with timed end-to-end conditioning drills at Family Sports Center.

Following the two morning sessions, Avs coach Jared Bednar said Matteau, a forward, and McKeown, a defenseman, both tested positive but are near the end of their recovery.

“I don’t like losing those guys, even for a day or two of training camp, but Matteau is cleared but he hasn’t done anything for seven days so…