USA Hockey has asked the International Ice Hockey Federation to reconsider the cancellation of the u18 Women’s World Cup, which was scheduled to take place in January in Sweden.
This is the second year in a row that the tournament has been canceled. The event was also scrapped due to the recent times. The IIHF said the decision to cancel all January tournaments was based on a recommendation from the Organization’s medical committee and that it was not possible to postpone the U18 Women’s Championship due to the league’s obligations in Sweden.
“I believe the IIHF is trying to do everything in its power to make sure the events are as safe as possible for every participant,” USA Hockey executive Director Pat Kelleher said Monday. “However, we asked them to take a closer look at the U-18s and see what they could do to at least postpone them and consider options with the countries involved in this event.”
Kelleher called it “a critical event for the future of women’s hockey” and an important event for the players and staff involved.
The IIHF’s announcement last week – two days before the start of the world men’s youth tournament unaffected by the cancellations – sparked outrage in the Hockey community. US Star Kendall Coyne called it unacceptable and tweeted: “Find out how to safely play the Under-18 World Cup this Season.”
She is far from alone in this feeling. Drake Batherson, an NHL forward for the Ottawa Senators, saw the riot on social media and paid close attention to it while Mae, 21, plays Syracuse Division I college hockey.
“I hope you can plan it again,” Batherson said Monday in a video call. “They deserved to play like us. I would like this tournament to take place. I watch a lot of girls hockey. I watch the Olympics, the girls’ team, and I watch my sister all the time. They are such great players, and they deserve to show their skills as much as we do.”
The women’s U18 tournaments in Group a, Group B and Division II as well as the men’s U20 tournaments in Group B and Division II were also canceled.
“Tough situations all around,” Kelleher said. “Of course we hope that there are ways for people to continue to look for solutions to some of these problems.”
