Micah Zandee-Hart of Saanichton, a regular on the Canada blueline, is recovering from surgery and would have missed the 2021 IIHF world women’s hockey championship.
But that does not lessen the sharpness of the disappointment she feels for her teammates with the announcement that the May 6-16 event in Nova Scotia will be cancelled.
“We understand the state of the world, but it’s frustrating, when you see other tournaments going on and being played, such as the men’s Under-18 IIHF world championship [this month in Texas],” said Zandee-Hart.
She can also turn on the TV and get her fill of the NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS. Other Canadian women’s national teams, including in soccer and the Langford-based rugby sevens, have played in international tournaments this month from Wales to Dubai, respectively, in preparation for the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
“It’s disheartening,” said Zandee-Hart.
“It’s taking a mental toll. We have not had an international tournament in two years.”
The IIHF and Hockey Canada have vowed to reschedule the worlds to later in the year. But reaction to the Nova Scotia scuttling has been blistering on several fronts.
“The cancellation of the world championship at the last minute this week was just another reminder that women’s hockey continues to be treated as an afterthought,” tweeted U.S. star player Hilary Knight.
“The health and safety of the people of Nova Scotia is, and must be, the top priority. However, to cancel this critical event so close to its start with some teams en route to the site — and provide no other option, is incredibly disappointing.
“There have been successful bubbles in other sports over the past year. The IIHF world [men’s] juniors were held in Canada only a few months ago. Why is women’s hockey not afforded the same opportunity to compete within a bubble environment as the men? Why is our tournament expendable when others are not?”
Particularly irksome for women’s hockey is to see the IIHF U-18 men’s world tournament proceed in Texas, beginning this week. But the U.S. has surpassed 200 million first vaccinations and all states have not only opened up for sports, but in the case of Texas, with unlimited fans allowed to attend the Rangers MLB home opener.
All NBA teams, except two, are allowing fans to a percentage of arena capacity ranging from 3.5 per cent to 30 per cent. Even liberal Washington state is allowing sports fans into venues at up to 25 per cent capacity or 9,000 people, whichever is lower.
The virus will likely be in the rear-view mirror by the time of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics next February, but Zandee-Hart and her Canadian teammates might still be denied if those Games are boycotted to punish China on several fronts. When pressed, Micah-Hart steered well clear of politics.
“I’m not following it [Beijing Olympics boycott talk],” said the Islander.
