US women’s hockey players call out IIHF for cancellations

The International Ice Hockey Federation has canceled all tournaments scheduled for January 2022, marking the second year in a row that the U18 Women’s World Championships have been canceled.

Due to ongoing concerns regarding the spread of the Omicron variant, The IIHF Council has made the difficult decision to cancel all tournaments scheduled for January 2022.

More at https://t.co/ojtCWinZ91 pic.twitter.com/TSvNRiCpTx

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 24, 2021

In a statement, the IIHF called the U18 Women’s World Championship “an important part of strengthening and building ice hockey on the girls’ and women’s side.”

Increased concerns over coronavirus have led to the cancellation of the tournament.

“It is the consensus of the IIHF Medical Committee that the organizers would not have the capability to manage an outbreak of the virus, especially with the rapid transfer of the Omicron variant that we have seen in the NHL and other leagues,” said IIHF president Luc Tardif.

Meanwhile, the 2021 U18 Men’s World Championships were held in Texas and the IIHF still plans to hold the 2022 U18 men’s event, which is scheduled for April in Germany. The U20 Men’s World Junior Championships has also still gone on in each of the past two seasons, including the 2022 tournament, which is underway in Edmonton, Alberta.

There is no equivalent of the U20 tournament for women.

Many players have been outspoken about the cancellation, calling out the IIHF for seeming to prioritize the men’s tournaments over the women’s.

“UNACCEPTABLE,” tweeted Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield. “Figure out how to safely play the U18 Worlds this season, just like the U18 men & World Juniors. These players DESERVE to play too.”

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. https://t.co/QhDwaPdM4r

— Kendall Coyne Schofield (@KendallCoyne) December 24, 2021

Meghan Duggan, a 2018 Olympic gold medalist, called the decision “beyond disappointing.”

“The IIHF has continually prioritized top men’s events during the pandemic but the u18 women’s event is cancelled – AGAIN. The u18 women’s tournament must be safely played this season, just like the U18 men & World Juniors. They deserve it.”

This is beyond disappointing. The IIHF has continually prioritized top men’s events during the pandemic but the u18 women’s event is cancelled - AGAIN. The u18 women’s tournament must be safely played the this season, just like the U18 men & #WorldJuniors. They deserve it. https://t.co/i3YdlP2wRC

— Meghan Duggan (@mduggan10) December 24, 2021

Kelly Pannek echoed those comments, saying “it’s far too easy for the IIHF to cancel women’s events while the men play on.”

Absolutely devastating to have the U18 Women’s World Championship canceled AGAIN (with no plan to reschedule). It’s far too easy for the @IIHFHockey to cancel women’s events while the men play on. Gutted for all the young women who have lost the chance to represent their country. https://t.co/JJoLAfSeI8

— Kelly Pannek (@KPan19) December 24, 2021

The sentiments echo those that were made earlier in the year after the Women’s World Championships were cancelled twice before being rescheduled.