The IIHF should be embarrassed with their handling of the World Juniors
Today it was announced that the IIHF had cancelled the remainder of the tournament games due to COVID outbreaks for the United States, Russia and Czechia. These outbreaks resulted in each team forfeiting one game, before the IIHF made the decision to pull the plug on the tournament, but according to Luc Tardiff he "isn't cancelling the tournament" as he has hopes to finish the tournament at a later date.
Obviously this idea is an attempt to save face after the IIHF setup this tournament for failure before it even began. The IIHF just cancelled all of its women's tournaments, while citing financial reasons. But if the IIHF were to reschedule this tournament it would result in a significant financial investment. That's not to mention the loan agreements they would have to sign with leagues to secure the rights and insurance for each player.
Regardless of what the IIHF will have you believe it wasn't COVID that cancelled this tournament it was poor planning at least according to the Finnish coach, Antti Pennanen.
Pennanen also added:
There should have been an NHL protocol here, where only the infected are quarantined, not the whole team. That's why games had to be cancelled. It should have been handled in such a way that those who are positive are sidelined and the rest are allowed to continue playing.
This tournament should have been organised and run properly as an event. It should have been the same as last year, when, for example, the German team had many positive tests, but still played short-handed.
There have been multiple points of contention of this tournament from the beginning, with the quarantine policy bringing many questions. Teams also shared disappointment in players having to share rooms as it immediately forced at least two players out of the tournament.
The IIHF was also blasted for the lack of bubble environment with one hotel even hosting a hotel where the teams from the USA and Sweden were staying.
One of the Swedish team members shared the following:
This tournament is a once in a lifetime experience for so many of these players who've made the trip from their club teams. Many of the European players have already been away from their teams for nearly a month to meet quarantine restrictions, so not only have these players lost out on this tournament they've missed out on almost a month worth of hockey during key development times.
The IIHF owes these kids and everyone they represent so much better. I'll leave you with this, the German team spending a few minutes on the ice before departing Canada after attending the tournament that never was.
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