Women’s hockey worlds set for August

LIKELY IN ALBERTA

It looks like the women’s world hockey championship will be saved.

The IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship was cancelled just a few days ago by the Nova Scotia provincial government, only hours before teams were to catch their flights to Halifax.

As promised by Hockey Canada, the shocking decision made by Nova Scotia politicians less than an hour before Team Canada was to take the ice for the final session of the team selection pre-tournament camp, the intention was to turn it into a “postponement.”

Friday, the IIHF Council agreed in principle to a new set of dates for the 10-nation event originally scheduled for May 6-16 following a quarantine period, and will take place Aug. 20-31 in Canada. It was not revealed exactly where in Canada the event would be held, however.

But it is believed it will be centred in Calgary with several games to played in junior hockey venues around southern Alberta.

“We are evaluating a number of options,” said Scott Smith, CEO of Hockey Canada.

Meanwhile, sources say the Canadian Hockey League has come to a decision for Edmonton to play host to a three-team Prospects Showcase and NHL Combine for late June and early July dates between the Stanley Cup Final and NHL Draft.

The event would include a trio of games featuring draft-eligible players from each of the QMJHL, OHL and WHL.

The NHL Combine is an event held prior to the draft where players are tested, evaluated, have medicals and are interviewed by management and scouts of the now 32 NHL teams, a number that is growing by one with the entry of the expansion Seattle Kraken.

It is expected that complete details will be revealed with an official announcement early next week.