RIGA, May 31, 2021 - The pandemic is also throwing up this year's Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga. A total of 16 teams with 28 players each and 14 coaches and staff members are housed in a "bubble" in Riga's largest hotel, the Radisson Blu. Everyday life is determined by hygiene regulations. So the players are not allowed to join the beautiful city, but life only takes place in the hotel. The only thing you can do with the shuttle bus is to go to ice practice or games and then straight back.The World Cup also lacks the top stars and ice hockey millionaires from the North American professional league NHL, who normally inspire an ice hockey World Championship. Only 74 NHL players are playing for their home countries this year. In numbers, there were 129 NHL players at the last World Cup in Slovakia, 70 millionaires with a total salary of US$ 388,491,000. This year the salary of all NHL players for the season is only US$ 110,107,163. 22 players earn over US$ 1 million this per season. The top earner is the Swiss Nico Hieschier from the New Jersey Devils with US$ 7,000,000.
Usually, the top stars of the NHL teams not qualified for the play-offs travel directly to their national teams. This year, however, the stars and top scorers from the 8 eliminated NHL teams are avoiding the risk of being infected by the virus or are not getting approval from their clubs.
The level of this World Championship has therefore decreased considerably compared to previous years. This is the chance for the "outsiders" to have surprises. The results have shown it. From the multiple World Cup Champion Canada only players come who have played in their NHL teams in the 3rd or 4th line and were not used in the "power play". The "maple leaves" are threatened with not reaching the quarter-finals, something that has never happened in the history of the World Championships. The Canadians' arrogance that this path would be enough for the weak European teams has so far been bitterly punished . The maple leaves first met in Toronto and were trar1sported to Riga by charter flight. They then had to be quarantined for 6 days and were then allowed to practice twice before the first game. That is just not enough as preparation.
Since there is no relegation at this World Cup, the teams can give young players the chance to gain experience. The German team without the NHL stars Draisaitl or Grubauer proves this with mostly convincing performances.
There is no clear favorite. The reigning world champion Finland is not a single player from the 2019 gold team in Riga. Maybe it will be a world championship of surprises.
