The International Ice Hockey Federation has canceled the under-18 women's world championship for a second straight year over COVID-19 concerns, a move that has drawn sharp criticism as the men's world junior hockey championship appears ready to start on schedule.
The IIHF announced Friday that tournaments scheduled to begin in January have been canceled because of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.
The U18 championship was scheduled to take place Jan. 8-15 in Linkoping and Mjolby, Sweden. It's the second straight year the tournament has been canceled, following the 2021 event, also scheduled for Linkoping and Mjolby, was scrapped because of the pandemic.
The U.S. roster included seven players from Minnesota: goalie Sedona Blair of Holy Family, defenseman Emma Peschel of Benilde-St. Margaret's and five forwards: Danielle Burgen of Chisago Lakes, Claire Enright of Lakeville South, Madison Kaiser of Holy Family, Ava Lindsay of Minnetonka and Josie St. Martin of Stillwater.
News of the cancellation came two days before the men's junior hockey championship was set to begin in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
"Why is it automatically a cancellation?" tweeted Canadian women's national team defender Erin Ambrose, who won gold in 2010 and 2012 and silver in 2011 with the U18 team. "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?"
Canadian Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser said on Twitter that she questions the IIHF's stated reason for canceling the women's U18 tournament.
"Nothing to do with safety, if they can pull off the (men's tournament)," she wrote, noting that event is a much bigger source of revenue for the IIHF. "Where there is a will, there is always a way. I question the 'will' part."