How many hopes Russian fans had for the MFM-2022. Firstly, the fans, of course, expected medals from their compatriots. Secondly, we were looking forward to the confrontation between the two most promising forwards in the world: Matvey Michkov and Canadian Connor Bedard. Two players are battling for the 2023 first pick, and a tournament would clear things up a bit before the talent fair.

Unfortunately, this MFM was remembered not by interesting matches, but by scandals and a terrible organization. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the tournament had to be canceled ahead of time, so the battle for gold and the duel of supertalents never took place.

The IIHF decided to rectify the situation and postponed the MFM for the summer (August 9-20), promising now to arrange everything according to the highest standard. However, the second version of the tournament already promises to be one of the most boring in history. Star juniors and the Russian national team will not come to Edmonton, and Canadian fans may even boycott the championship.

Maybe roll up this shop?

“The World Cup is not the perfect time”

Although the IIHF promised that the summer MFM will not differ from the winter tournament in terms of atmosphere and level of players, it is already clear that the organizers will not be able to keep their word. Many teams have lost their main stars. First of all, we are talking about Slovakia and its forward Juraj Slafkovski. The number one forward in the recent draft went to Montreal. And now Slafkowski is training at the Habs development camp and does not even think about flying to Edmonton. Montreal just won’t let a talented prospect go to the upcoming championship.

At the same time, the decision of the Canadian club does not look like some unexpected step. The Khabs, by selecting the 2022 Olympics MVP number one, made it clear that they need a player who can help the team next season. Slafkowski spent his entire sports career in Europe, which means he needs to adapt to North American hockey as soon as possible. You can do this at the Khabs camp, but not at the MFM.

Juraj Słafkowski / Photo: © REUTERS / Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Without the Slovak, who ignited at the adult Olympics, the tournament is already losing in entertainment. However, Slafkowski is not the only one who will miss the second launch of the MFM. Szymon Nemec won’t put on the jersey of Slovakia and the second draft pick. In New Jersey, they simply decided to keep the young defender. For Shimon, last season began on August 1 at the Glinka Cup, and the club felt that the hockey player needed a rest. At the same time, the German also does not want to miss the opportunity to cling to the main part of the “devils”.

And if the participation of the Slovaks in the MFM was influenced by their clubs, then the Swedish forward William Eklund and the Swiss Lian Bixel themselves refused their teams. At the same time, Eklund was already in the application of the Swedish team, and the coaching staff was waiting for him at the training camp. But the forward of the San Jose system unexpectedly made a decision in favor of the club.

— I need time to prepare as best as possible for the training camp in September. My goal is to get into the NHL. The World Championships will not be held at the ideal time, and this decision is the best for my development, said Eklund.

Lian Bixel, the main talent of the Swiss national team, asked the coaching staff to allow him to skip the training camp and join the team already in Edmonton – the defender did not have a vacation at all. Not only did they not meet the Dallas prospect, they also suspended him from the national team for an indefinite period!

The Canadians have not yet announced the composition and it is not known whether Bedard will take part. But the trend is still disappointing …

Latvia instead of Russia

The MFM will be held not only without many star players, but also without the Russian team. Our team at the main tournament of the summer will be replaced by Latvia. But Russia is traditionally among the favorites in the fight for gold medals. Such an unequal replacement destroys the prestige of the championship and contradicts the principle of sports: the strongest must play against the strongest.

Accordingly, the fans will not see Michkov, who again was deprived of the opportunity to prove himself at the MFM. But many would come to see a young talent from Russia, and there would be no less scouts than spectators. There are other players in our team who could be of interest to North American fans. Forwards Danila Yurov and Ivan Miroshnichenko, for example, were chosen in the first round of the last draft. Yurov is expected to become Kirill Kaprizov’s partner in Minnesota, and Miroshnichenko in Washington is called the next Ovechkin.

Photo: © FHR

MFM will be held without spectators?

In addition, due to the numerous sex scandals surrounding the Ice Hockey Federation of Canada, local media are urging fans to boycott the MFM in Edmonton. It was recently revealed that the federation has used its National Equity Fund, backed by membership dues from across the country, to pay off sexual harassment claims — an estimated $8.9 million since 1989. On this occasion, even the Minister of Sports of the country spoke sharply!

However, there are no layoffs or other reshuffles in the federation yet. So the Canadian media is already calling to ignore the tournament in order to change the situation. The outcome of the audience, however, can finally kill the MFM, the second launch of which threatens to become even more disastrous than the first. The tournament is no longer needed by either hockey players or fans.