IIHF aban­dons U20 World Cham­pi­onship

Image info: Brought down by coronavirus! IIHF abandons the ongoing U20 World Championship as fair competition can no longer be guaranteed. Pictured: Christoph Tialler and Mavrik Bourque (CAN) - Photo: © Puckfans.at/Werner Krainbucher

On Tuesday (local time), the Switzerland vs. USA game had already had to be cancelled due to at least one positive case among the defending champions and the resulting automatically imposed 24-hour quarantine for the entire team, and was awarded 1:0 to the Swiss.

Further nations were affected on Wednesday, prompting the IIHF to convene an emergency board meeting to discuss and decide how to proceed. It concluded that, under the circumstances, fair competition could no longer be held and that the World Championship would be abandoned.

All nations will return home at the earliest possible opportunity.

Austria's U20 team played two games at this World Championship against the two top favourites, Finland and hosts Canada, as well as a pre-tournament friendly against Sweden, another title contender. In all of these games, the team showed heart, threw everything into the battles and onto the ice, regardless of the result. The middle period against Canada, which they finished 1:1, can be regarded as a pleasing partial success.

ÖEHV Men's Sporting Director and Head of Delegation Roger Bader: "The abandonment of the World Championship is, of course, a great shame. Especially for the players, who not only looked forward to the tournament but gave everything to be here. The performances in the three games, including the friendly against Sweden, were absolutely satisfactory. The lads gave everything. However, abandoning it is the right decision. We do not know how the virus might otherwise have spread. The health of everyone involved takes priority at all times."