Safety First

While they're nowhere close to the likes of Canada, Sweden, Finland, or the US, I find it encouraging that a country like Australia has managed to climb through a number of levels of hockey on the international stage. After all, this is a country who is thought mostly to be in a warmer weather climate by those of us north of the equator, but Australia will see temperatures plunge to near-freezing levels when we're enjoying our summer. As a result, their hockey scene is still developing and evolving, but it may have taken a slight step back with a decision made today when it comes to growing the game in the country.

Back at the start of November, I had mentioned that the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II, Group A tournament would be played in Melbourne, Australia from April 27 to May 5, 2025. Obviously, this was a big step in Australia's hockey history as they would host teams from Belgium, Israel, Netherlands, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates while competing to move up to the IIHF Division I, Group B level. Australia had a shot, in my view, of winning this tournament with the recent play in th AIHL showing emerging talent and the fan support that they would receive.

Announced today by Ice Hockey Australia, the sport's governing body in Australia has decided that they won't be hosting the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II, Group A Championship due to safety concerns for players and staff after antisemitic attacks in Australia have risen sharply since October 2023. With Israel being part of the tournament, the nation wasn't named specifically by Ice Hockey Australia in their statement, but Australian media "quoted an email sent from IHA to the International Ice Hockey Federation saying it could not host the tournament in Melbourne as planned because of safety concerns due to Israel's participation".

"The decision was primarily made to ensure the safety and security of athletes, volunteers, spectators, and other participants," Ice Hockey Australia said in a statement. "IHA does not shy away from making this decision with safety at the forefront. IHA is not in a position to comment on global issues outside the sport of ice hockey and did not intend for an internal email to be shared broadly."

At this point, just own it, IHA. Yes, no one intended for the email to leak, but it did. Own it and put the spotlight on the behaviour of some of the citizens living in your country. If you want nice things, Australia, you better act accordingly.

The reason I say they should own it isn't to denigrate the Israeli ice hockey team that was going to play in the tournament because they had earned their spot in the event. However, I believe the IHA should own it to call out the troubling antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes happening in Australia on a regular basis.

For example, there was a firebombing of a synagogue in December. There has been racist graffiti against both sides seen in cities with some being blatently overt. In knowing these acts of racism were happening, it seems the IHA took a step back, looked at the bigger picture, and made a decision that wouldn't be popular with hockey fans while thinking of the greater good. That's what being accountable and responsible looks like in today's world.

It's a shame that Australia isn't going to host this event because hockey's popularity within Melbourne is quite high considering they have both the Ice and the Mustangs playing in the AIHL in that city. This tournament could have exposed the world to the AIHL and vice versa, given more opportunities for players from those six countries to play for an Australian team, and shown everyone that Australia is, indeed, a hockey country. Instead, this tournament will now take place somewhere else while Australia will have to figure out how to curb the problems that prevented it from benefitting from the biggest hockey tournament ever played on the Land Down Under.

Where will the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II, Group A Championship be played, you ask? The IIHF did not respond to a request for comment, but it won't be New Zealand because they're already hosting the Division II, Group B Championship on the same dates. Clearly, this tournament will have to move and I'd expect one of the five other countries to host it.

Ice Hockey Australia is doing what's right in looking out for the safety of all involved, but it sucks that Melbourne and Australian ice hockey fans miss out on this great tournament because people can't be civil.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!