For the first time since 1988, there will be no Men’s IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
The IIHF council confirmed the decision on Saturday, citing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the reason why the tournament will not happen.
The competition was scheduled to occur from May 8 - May 24 in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland.
“This is a harsh reality to face for the international ice hockey family, but one that we must accept,” said IIHF President René Fasel in the official release. “The coronavirus is a global problem and requires major efforts by government bodies to combat its spread.