Spengler Cup 2021 cancelled!
Article - Spengler Cup 2021 cancelled!
25.12.2021
Following 2020, the Spengler Cup must also be cancelled in 2021 due to the effects of the pandemic. As a result of the epidemiological situation in the Davos region, the canton of Graubünden, in consultation with the tournament organizers, withdrew the health permit.
The organizing committee fought until the very end to hold this year's tournament. Various problems, especially those of the participating teams, had been solved. Even the cancellations of Team Canada and Ambri-Piotta were replaced at short notice with two new teams. However, after several players of the host HC Davos tested positive for the Corona virus shortly before Christmas, the tournament organizers had to definitively cancel the tournament.
In the almost 100-year history of the Spengler Cup, the event has only been cancelled five times since 1923 - in 1939, 1940, 1949, 1956 and, as is well known, last year due to the covid pandemic. In 2020 it was already decided in September to cancel the tournament due to all the uncertainties and risks caused by the pandemic.
This year, until the very end it looked as if the 94th edition would be possible despite the pandemic. Especially after the canton of Graubünden had given the go-ahead for the event at the beginning of November. Again and again questions and problems arose due to the constantly changing pandemic situation, but for a long time a solution could be found for all these points.
After the defending champion Team Canada and the quarantined HC Ambri-Piotta had to cancel due to the pandemic, the tournament committee looked for alternative possibilities. Within hours, two competitive replacement teams were found in the form of Slovan Bratislava and the "Bern Selection". In these difficult hours and days, the tournament organizers experienced great solidarity and support from home and abroad, which made this all possible.
However, the final bad news came on Christmas Eve. Host HC Davos had been testing all players and staff several times a week for the past few months and following a positive case 10 days ago even daily. While only one other isolated case appeared a few days ago, the majority of the team members have now tested positive on December 24th. Immediately, various bilateral consultations were held within the organizing committee and with the canton of Graubünden.
The final decision was made during a meeting on Saturday morning. Due to all the facts, regretfully the responsible persons together with the canton of Graubünden had to cancel this year's tournament at short notice.
The OC will inform what the further procedures are and answer all pending questions for guests, sponsors and partners in the next few days.
Quelle: Spengler Cup-media release