USA Hockey has asked the International Ice Hockey Federation to reconsider canceling the women鈥檚 under-18 world championship that was scheduled to take place in Sweden in January.
It鈥檚 the second consecutive year the tournament has been canceled. The 2021 event was also scrapped because of the pandemic. The IIHF said the decision to cancel all January tournaments was based on a recommendation from the organization鈥檚 medical committee and that it was not possible to reschedule the women鈥檚 under-18 championship because of league commitments within Sweden.
鈥淚 believe the IIHF is trying to do what they can to make sure that if they run events they are as safe as possible for every participant,鈥� USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said Monday. 鈥淗owever, we have requested they look at the U-18s specifically and see what they can do to at least postpone it and explore options with the countries that are involved with that event.鈥�
Kelleher called it 鈥渁 critical event for the future of women鈥檚 hockey鈥� and an important one for players and staff involved.
The IIHF's announcement last week 鈥� two days before the start of the men's world junior tournament that was not affected by the cancellations 鈥� across the hockey community. U.S. star Kendall Coyne called it unacceptable and , 鈥淔igure out how to safely play the U18 Worlds this season.鈥�
She's far from alone in that sentiment. Drake Batherson, a forward for the NHL's Ottawa Senators, saw the uproar on social media and paid particular attention because 21-year-old sister Mae plays Division I college hockey at Syracuse.
鈥淗opefully they can reschedule it,鈥� Batherson said on a video call Monday. 鈥淭hey deserve to play just as much as we do. I鈥檇 like to see that tournament happen. I watch a ton of girls' hockey. I watch the Olympics, the girls' team, and I watch my sister all the time. They鈥檙e such great players, and they deserve to showcase their skills just as much as we do.鈥�
The Group A, Group B and Division II women鈥檚 under-18 tournaments also were canceled, as were the Group B and Division II men鈥檚 under-20 tournaments.
鈥淐hallenging situations all the way around,鈥� Kelleher said. 鈥淲e certainly hope there鈥檚 ways for people to continue to look for solutions to some of these issues down the road.鈥�
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
