IIHF: Statement from the IIHF canceling all tournaments in January.
“Following a recommendation by the IIHF Medical Committee due to recent developments in the global COVID-19 epidemiological situation and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the IIHF Council has decided to cancel all IIHF tournaments that were scheduled to begin in January 2022.”
Tara Slone: “Men ask how to be good allies all the time. Well here’s how: when the @IIHFHockey cancels the women’s U-18s for the 2nd year in a row, join us in our outrage. Use your voices and demand better, for women and for the sport. Especially the hockey men with with big followings.”
Kendall Coyne Schofield: “The IIHF has prioritized & held top division men’s events during the pandemic but the top division women’s events – cancelled – again. UNACCEPTABLE. Figure out how to safely play the U18 Worlds this season, just like the U18 men & #WorldJuniors. These players DESERVE to play too.”
Erin Ambrose: “Why is it automatically a cancellation? We understand the concerns regarding health and safety but why is a postponement not considered for these women as the men’s tournaments continue without hesitation? #equalityinsport @IIHFHockey“
Lindsay Eastwood: “So disheartening to see the @IIHFHockey Women’s U18 World’s cancelled again. As someone who played in that tournament and it has been my only opportunity to wear the Red and White, I would have been devastated if it were to be cancelled only days before the opening game.
- “Seeing the Men’s World Juniors go on as planned you have to think there is a way to keep the women playing too. The men’s side of @IIHFHockey will walk away with a profit and if the women’s side were to go on they’d walk away with growth for the sport.”
- “As female hockey players we all have been battling for growth. It’s almost 2022 and we’re seeing improvement in investing in Women’s sport but this is a step back. This could be a great opportunity to support the women and find a way to keep these ladies on the ice.”
- “This is not to say to throw out all health and safety measures. However, we’ve seen successful bubbles. Or postponing until a later date. We cannot just forfeit an effort to keep these ladies participating at the highest level they can. @IIHFHockey I ask you to reevaluate.”
Marc Methot: “So the @IIHFHockey cancels the women’s U18 for the second year in a row. Did I read that right? What an idiotic decision and completely unfair. The young women deserve better here. I want my daughter to play one day. I’d expect better for her, too.”
Frank Seravalli: “Do better, @IIHFHockey. If it’s safe enough to hold the men’s events, it’s safe enough to hold the women’s.”
Arpon Basu: “There it is. It’s official. And it’s wrong. I don’t understand why these tournaments – especially the women’s U18 worlds – could not be postponed as opposed to cancelled. Like, at least try to do it later in the year, or leave open that possibility. Makes no sense to me.”
Chris Peters: “The cancellation of the U18 Women’s Worlds instead of a postponement is unacceptable. Two birth years for all women’s hockey nations have been denied valuable development opportunities. Logistically it is difficult, but it is a top-division tournament. Figure it out.”
Chris Peters: “IIHF says due to league commitments they can’t have it in Sweden later in the year. Fine. Move it. Let Sweden host another year and make this happen. Growth of the women’s game has been disproportionately impacted by these cancellations.”