The IIHF canceled the U18 Women's World Championship on Friday.
This marks the second straight year the event has been axed due to the pandemic. The January tournament, one of seven canceled by the IIHF due to recent COVID-related developments, was supposed to take place in Sweden beginning Jan. 8.
"These are hard facts to have to face, and as with last year, we must take the difficult decision to cancel men's and women's IIHF events, including the women's U18 top division now for the second year in a row," said IIHF President Luc Tardif.
"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."
Plenty of prominent professional women's players expressed their displeasure in the outright cancelation of the tournament despite the fact that the U18 men's championship is slated to begin this week.
It’s super insulting & degrading to announce the cancellation (not even postponement or relocation) of the Women’s U18 WHILE a men’s tournament is being carried on not once but TWO YEARS IN A ROW. Do better
— Shannon Szabados (@ShannonSzabados) December 24, 2021
Womens U 18=-$
— Hayley Wickenheiser (@wick_22) December 24, 2021
World Junior=$$$$$$
Nothing to do with safety, if they can pull of the WJ. Where there is a will, there is always a way. I question the 'will' part. https://t.co/45NkiS69Lj
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
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
It’s really time for @IIHFHockey to show that their organization values women in hockey and find a way to get the Worlds best U18 Women on the ice. Postponing/Rescheduling this TOP TIER tournament while keeping health & safety top of mind would be a great way to start! https://t.co/A4dDDNxDBc
— Sarah Nurse (@nursey16) December 24, 2021
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.