Avalanche coach Jared Bednar tests positive for COVID-19

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be with the club for its last two preseason games.

Colorado assistants Ray Bennett and Nolan Pratt coached the team in a 3-1 loss Thursday night at the Minnesota Wild. Avs players were informed on Wednesday of Bednar’s positive test. It is unclear when he will return to the bench.

“It definitely (stinks) to lose your head coach like that to COVID. It’s tough but it’s something you’ve got to deal with. We dealt with it a lot last year,” forward Tyson Jost said. “We know how to handle this. Nothing changes for us either in that locker room. We know the job that is at hand. … I’m sure he’ll still be involved with the team on Zoom.”

Forward Logan O’Connor added: “These things could happen throughout the year. We’ve just got to be able to prepare for it and sort of move past it. (Bednar) wishes he was with us and we wish he was as well right now. But we’ve just got to battle on. We’ve got a job to do. … Hopefully, we don’t have too many instances like this.”

Bednar, at his preseason-opening news conference, said the team hoped that all personnel would be 100% vaccinated from COVID-19. However, new free-agent signees Stefan Matteau and Roland MacKeown missed the start of training camp because of positive tests.

Avalanche players in Thursday’s game were tested twice for COVID-19, Jost said, and will continue being tested daily for the “next week or so.” Colorado returns to Ball Arena for its preseason finale against the Stars on Saturday night.

The Avs’ home opener is Wednesday, Oct. 13 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“It’s a tough situation,” Jost said. “Obviously, you wanted everyone to get vaccinated and whatnot. Then it kind of (stinks) you still have people that are still testing positive. You kind of think you’re over the hump. … But that’s the world that we live in now. It’s something you have to deal with and push forward.”

Roster notes. Four Avalanche players cleared waivers on Thursday and have been reassigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL): C Stefan Matteau, D Roland McKeown, LW Kiefer Sherwood and C Dylan Sikura. Backup goaltender Pavel Francouz (lower body) has been placed on the injured reserve list.