"The purest mistake of the organizers": how Russia reacted to the cancellation of the Youth World Ice Hockey Championship in Canada

"Tough blow for hockey in general"

The early completion of the World Youth Hockey Championship in Canada was a big disappointment for millions of fans.

First, the match between Switzerland and the United States was canceled, then the meeting between the Czech Republic and Finland.

Finally, after passing a positive coronavirus test by 17-year-old Russian striker Matvey Michkov, the IIHF made a tough decision.

The FHR "shared the organizers' concern for the health of the participants and the observance of the sports principle."

Head coach Sergei Zubov, finding words with difficulty, said that on Wednesday morning everyone was calmly preparing for the game.

However, a little later it became known about the cancellation of the meeting with Slovakia, and then the entire tournament.

“Naturally, the guys and the whole team are disappointed.

We saw fire in their eyes, the mood was outrageous.

In the morning we held a meeting and then received the news ... I want to thank everyone for their dedication and work.

They sacrificed a lot to be in their places.

We talked to them on ZOOM, the coaching staff thanked the guys for their efforts and expressed their sympathy.

The cancellation of such a tournament is a heavy blow for hockey in general.

IIHF, the organizers - everyone made great efforts to make an excellent championship, but, unfortunately, circumstances intervened, ”said the FHR mentor.

According to him, the team is currently in quarantine and is awaiting information from the organizing committee about return flights to Russia.

Oleg Znarok, who holds the position of a consultant at Zubov's headquarters, stressed that the Russians are especially offended, since they were "charged to win."

The athletes themselves did not hide their disappointment.

The captain of the youth team Marat Khusnutdinov admitted that he learned the unpleasant news just half an hour before leaving for the match with Slovakia.

“There was no mandrage before passing the PCR tests.

Everyone knew where we were.

They wore masks, did not communicate with any of the other teams.

And what happened happened.

It's a shame very much.

We prepared carefully, created a team, a team - a single whole.

And in the middle of the championship, the tournament is canceled.

Emotions cannot be expressed in words, ”Khusnutdinov said at a press conference.

According to the striker, the team does not discuss passing a positive test for coronavirus by Michkov.

“Searching for the guilty is not our business.

We came to play hockey.

There was no talk in the team about this, ”Khusnutdinov added.

Moreover, in the current circumstances, it is possible that Russians will have to celebrate the New Year in their hotel rooms - if necessary, comply with strict quarantine conditions.

“We're going to do everything according to the rules.

They will say not to go out - we will not go out.

Let's congratulate each other on the video.

We are now required to do what they ask, ”summed up the forward.

According to defender Shakir Mukhamadullin, hockey players in this situation are left to behave like professionals.

“It is clear what the situation is in the world.

It's a shame, but it is not in our power to change the rules and warn someone.

Everyone will treat this with understanding and accept it as it is.

Our plan was to hand over the PCR, then we had to prepare for the game.

Thoughts always flew only about this, ”said the Russian.

We are extremely annoyed at the forced stop of the tournament and at the disposition of other MFM participants.

In particular, the coach of the US national team Nate Lyman noted that he was “heartbroken” for the team.

And the forward of the Swedish national team Alexander Holz stressed that the Scandinavians could well have won the tournament.

The forced end of the championship was also a big disappointment for the IIHF leadership. 

“I am very upset for the Ice Hockey Federation of Canada - there was a huge investment.

This is a serious decision, painful from the financial side: TV, advertising, tickets - huge losses, ”TASS quotes a statement by the honorary president of the International Federation, Rene Fasel.

And former IIHF vice-president Kalervo Kummola called for postponing the 2022 MFM for a year, following the example of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"This is not the ice hockey world championship, but on COVID-19"

In Russia, the verdict of the International Federation was perceived ambiguously.

There were both who supported him and criticized.

According to the two-time Olympic champion Vyacheslav Fetisov, there are no guilty parties in this situation.

“Tighter rules could have been made.

It's a pity, because the MFM has always been a New Year's feast, where there is enthusiasm and creativity.

This hockey is a lot of fun.

It's a shame that it ended like this.

But it is definitely wrong to award defeat because of one positive case.

The sports principle is violated.

Imagine the absurdity of the situation if this happened before the finale.

Therefore, a difficult, but correct decision was made, "- quotes Fetisov" Championship ".

In turn, three-time world champion Alexei Tereshchenko expressed concern that the early completion of the MFM could negatively affect the prospects for the Olympic Games-2022 in Beijing.

“Correctly, some hockey players from Europe write that the players from the NHL to Beijing because of the pandemic do not want to fly, and we, they say, are extreme?

So it’s dangerous for them, but not for ours?

I completely agree with their opinion.

All people are the same.

If there is a threat to health, you need to take care of everyone, not just the NHL representatives, ”the expert said in an interview with Match TV.

But he called the IIHF verdict correct, since technical defeats were awarded to three out of ten participating teams at once.

“This is some kind of nonsense.

Then close all the teams in the "bubble", and let them live there for two weeks.

This is not the ice hockey world championship, but about COVID-19.

Who needs a coveted champion? "

- asked Tereshchenko.

The former head coach of the Russian national team, Vyacheslav Bykov, also approved the actions of the international federation, since in the current conditions it had no other choice.

“There is such a word“ regrettable ”- this is just about the abolition of the MFM.

It's a pity.

For every young hockey player entering the world championship, this is an important event both in sports life and in terms of continuing his career.

But now such a situation in the world ... It must be taken for granted.

The leadership, which decided to cancel the MFM, acted according to a certain situation that developed during the entire tournament.

The health of the guys is much more important.

MCHM, of course, is a youth holiday ... It is a pity that it happened so.

I think they are all champions of the MFM, ”the specialist emphasized.

He also addressed the national youth hockey players.

Bykov urged them, first of all, “not to wither”, as there are new peaks ahead, “which will need to be conquered,” both at the international and club levels.

Former goalkeeper of the Russian national team Ilya Bryzgalov also supported the athletes who suffered the most in this situation.

“You stunned me, it's awful.

I was very upset - you have been waiting for the MFM all year, and then again - and that's it.

I can imagine how the guys feel.

And those who passed a positive test can no longer fly home ... We have already played with this COVID-19.

I would understand that if the guys were lying with a temperature, it would cause concern, ”complained Bryzgalov.

However, many believe that IIHF in this story should not be considered only a hostage of circumstances.

For example, Dmitry Svishchev, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, emphasized that all responsibility for the suspension of the tournament rests entirely with the organizers.

“They had to foresee everything and rely on the experience of last year's World Cup.

Clean areas, control measures, bubbles.

The infection went from player to player.

This is the purest mistake of the organizers.

The Chinese came up with a clear idea at the Olympics.

And in Canada they relaxed.

This is their fault.

The organizers must be punished.

If Russia were holding this tournament now, this would not have happened.

We would not have allowed it.

The main thing is that upon their return our children receive qualified assistance, ”the deputy emphasized.

He was also supported by the commentator Denis Kazansky, who worked at the tournament matches.

He drew attention to the fact that they could not even announce the end of the championship “humanly”.

“IIHF is pushing Hockey Canada, Hockey Canada has nothing to say either.

In general, we are here, on the sidelines, naturally, we heard all this ... An amazing tournament, and most importantly, the organizers were not ready for what happened.

This, of course, is a shame, ”the journalist noted.

Many were also surprised by the overly strict rules of the COVID protocol, according to which, if even one positive test for coronavirus is passed, the entire team is obliged to quarantine.

For example, Olympic champion Darius Kasparaitis spoke about this.

“It's a very strange decision, how is it possible?

One person passed a positive test - the match was immediately canceled and a technical defeat was awarded.

Apparently, they have their own rules or regulations there.

Of course, there is no point in such a tournament.

It is wrong to give a team a defeat without play, the strongest must be identified on the ice, ”Kasparaitis said.

According to the former mentor of the youth team, Vladimir Plyushchev, only the sick should be quarantined, and not everyone in a row.

“Claims are only against the organizers.

I think IIHF should have checked everything and suggested what the consequences could be.

And what was done during the tournament is nonsense.

You quarantine those players who have passed a positive test, and when the whole team is punished because of one person, then this is another moment, "- quotes a TASS specialist.

Finally, Stanley Cup winner Valery Kamensky admitted that he did not expect such a step from the international federation.

"It's a pity.

It's a shame for young guys.

This is their championship, where they show themselves and go to adult hockey.

For the audience, it would be a great holiday for the New Year.

Michkov?

He is still young, he will have many world championships ahead of him.

Naturally, he started the championship great and wanted to help our team.

Unfortunately, this is a general decision, which negates a lot in sports terms, "- quotes the words of Kamensky" Sport-Express ".