Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to compete in the world ice hockey championships until 2025.
FILE: On Saturday, February 15, 2014, in Sochi, Russia, men’s ice hockey players Pavel Datsyuk of Russia and Ryan Kesler of the United States square up in the opening face-off of the 2014 Winter Olympics. For the first time in over ten years, NHL players will be competing in the Olympics again. As per a deal reached on Friday by the NHL, NHL Players’ Association, International Ice Hockey Federation, and IOC, the best hockey league in the world would permit its players to compete in the Games in Milan in 2026 and in 2030.(Julio Cortez, File/AP Photo) (Associated Press / Julio Cortez)
ZURICH The world governing body of ice hockey said on Monday that Russia and Belarus would be barred from the competition for an additional year, until the 2024–25 season, due to security concerns during the military invasion of Ukraine.
“It is not yet safe to reincorporate the Russian and Belarusian teams back into IIHF competitions,” declared the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The most recent extension of the embargo will prolong the country’ bans exclusion period beyond three years. The prior justification offered was “security concerns for players, competition staff, and fans.”
According to the IIHF, “this decision will also apply to the Belarusian team regarding the Final Olympic Qualification Round” in August.
For the first time since 2014 in Sochi, Russia, NHL players will participate in hockey in Milan when the Winter Olympics open in northern Italy on February 6, 2026.
The IIHF gave its ruling council until May of the following year to determine whether Russia and Belarus could make a comeback in time for the Olympics.
Russian player Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning was asked if his nation will be participating in the Olympics during this month’s NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto.
“I believe everyone wants to go, and it will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the nation,” Kucherov stated. “I’m crossing my fingers that Team Russia will compete in the Olympics. Hopefully.” And since things are different without Team Russia, it will truly be a best against best match.
The Russian team won silver in Beijing in 2022 and gold in Pyeongchang in 2018.
Both Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus love to play ice hockey.
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