World Juniors set to return to Alberta in August after January COVID-19 cancellation

The International Ice Hockey Federation says the World Juniors will return to Alberta in mid-August as a new event, months after COVID-19 forced the tournament’s cancellation in January.

The International Ice Hockey Federation says the World Juniors will return to Alberta in mid-August as a new event, months after COVID-19 forced the tournament’s cancellation in January.

“It will be in the middle of August in Alberta,” said Luc Tardif, IIHF president, said from the Beijing Olympics. “It will be a new competition, which means we will forget the results (in December).”

Tardif said details are still being worked on but that tournament would begin anew sometime after the under-18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scheduled to be contested at Rogers Place and typically held in early August.

“It will be a hockey festival and the teams are excited to do it.”

Tardif said players who took part in December’s tournament will remain eligible despite exceeding the tournament’s age limit in some cases.

Countries will also be allowed to select new rosters, though it’s unclear if National Hockey League teams will allow players to participate so close to the start of training camp.

The IIHF says relegation of the lowest-finishing team “may be possible” at August’s tournament. A relegation round was scheduled for December’s event but later cancelled due to a high number of COVID-19 infections among players.