The tournament was set to open March 31. The decision to cancel it was taken in an extraordinary meeting by the IIHF Council on Saturday and following recommendations by public health experts. “It is with great regret that we must take this action,” said IIHF President René Fasel.
Lars Weibel, Director of National Teams, is disappointed that the Swiss Women's National Team will not be able to play but to him, it is clear that the health of the players and the staff should be a priority.
Subject to formal approval by the IIHF Congress, the 2020 hosts cities Halifax and Truro will host the Women’s World Championship next year instead.
Several international tournaments on junior levels and in lower divisions, scheduled to be played in March, had already been called off earlier this week. Decisions about other IIHF tournaments that are on the schedule in April and May should be taken within the next month. The IIHF wants to wait until mid-April to determine whether the Men’s World Championships in Switzerland, set to start May 8, can take place.
