Historic Spengler Cup cancelled because of coronavirus pandemic

The Spengler Cup has been cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual hockey tournament in Switzerland for the Canadian national men's hockey team and European club teams was scheduled for Dec. 26 to 31.

Annual hockey tourney in Switzerland scrapped for 5th time and first since 1956

The Canadian Press · Posted: Sep 29, 2020 11:08 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 29, 2020

Canada won't have a chance to defend its record 16th Spengler Cup title this December after the tournament was cancelled Tuesday amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via Associated Press/File )

The Spengler Cup has been cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual tournament in Switzerland for the Canadian national men's hockey team and European club teams was scheduled for Dec. 26 to 31.

It marks the fifth time the tournament has been cancelled since it started in 1923, and the first time it has been off the schedule since 1956.

The organizing committee says it would have been nearly impossible to stage an event because of safety and travel concerns.

Canada set a record with its 16th tournament victory last year.

"The health of all participating teams and that they could return to their home countries in good health, was always the highest priority in our evaluation. We cannot make that guarantee," organizing committee president Mark Gianola said in a statement.

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