Three more major hockey tournaments have been canceled by Hockey Canada.

The 2020 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, 2020 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup and 2020 World Junior A Challenge have been cancelled and will be held in the same host communities in 2021

Hockey officials say while a tremendous amount of work has gone into planning the fall 2020 events, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created a position where there was no other option.

At various rates, provinces from coast-to-coast-to-coast have started moving ahead with their phased re-opening, but as it has been since the season was cancelled, Hockey Canada’s priority remains the health and safety of all participants and the general public.," say CEO Tom Renney and president Scott Smithin a joint statement.

"We believe the decision to cancel these three events is the safest decision given the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic at the local level, as well as the international implications associated with these events."