Updated 5/6/2021 7:51 AM
Northbrook s Jesse Compher was poised to help continue United States dominance in women s hockey.
But she and her teammates will have to wait.
Again.
As Team USA prepared to compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation Women s World Championship from May 6-16 in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, on April 21 the provincial government canceled the tournament over COVID-19 safety concerns. The tournament also was canceled in 2020.
National Women s Team director Katie Million delivered the dour news to Compher and her teammates including local training partners Megan Bozek from Arlington Heights, Kendall Coyne Schofield from Palos Heights, and Savannah Harmon from Downers Grove as they finished their last skate of team camp in Portland, Maine. The team was then scheduled to depart for the tournament, preceded by an eight-day quarantine.
With the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship less than three weeks away, the five-time reigning gold medalists sent shockwaves throughout the hockey world with an abrupt coaching change.
On Friday, USA Hockey announced that Bob Corkum, head coach of the U.S. women’s hockey team, would be stepping down, and Joel Johnson was named interim head coach.
The 2021 world championship gets underway on May 6 in Halifax and Truro, N.S. The Americans begin their gold medal defence against Switzerland, which can be seen live on TSN.
Corkum had been the American head coach since the 2018-19 season. He led the team to a fifth straight gold medal at the 2019 world championship.