PRAGUE, Czech Republic — It’s been three men’s world championships since the International Ice Hockey Federation banned Russian athletes, and the global ice hockey community appears to have completely moved on from one of the most decorated nations in the sport.
By any measure, this year’s IIHF World Hockey Championship was a success, shattering previous attendance records while also delivering great games and a memorable gold medal final.
The scene certainly didn’t feel like anything was missing or lacking.
European countries, in particular, continue to strongly support the IIHF’s ban on Russia and Belarus. The two countries have been excluded from all international hockey competitions since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
questioner Competitor During the World Championships, if Finnish coach Jukka Jalonen felt that these sanctions were still appropriate, he would have said: “Yes, of course. No doubt about it.
“I think it’s pretty reasonable given the situation,” said Finnish forward Ahti Oksanen, who played four years at Boston University before starting his career closer to home. . “I know the situation in North America is a little different than in Europe because in Europe we have very close relations with Russia and deal with them all the time. Now I think that makes sense.
Finland head coach Jukka Jalonen reacts during their qualifying match against Canada in Prague. (Robert Heradir/RvS.Media/Getty Images)
As the Ukrainian invasion continues, there is no end in sight for the ban.
Indeed, as the conflict drags on, the chances of Russia returning to the 2026 Milan Olympics become increasingly slim.
In February this year, the IIHF extended its ban on Russia and Belarus until 2025, citing safety concerns. A decision covering the first Olympic event featuring NHL players in more than a decade will be made next winter, IIHF President Luke Tardif told reporters at the world championships closing press conference in Prague on Sunday.
“We will make a decision in February next year as usual,” Tardif said. “The IOC’s decision is not important. That’s what we did before, we didn’t wait for the IOC’s decision, although of course we talked to them.
A limited number of Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete in this summer’s Paris Olympics, although they will be required to compete without a flag as neutral athletes and must pass a vetting process to ensure they are not actively supporting the war in Ukraine.
Neither Russia nor Belarus qualified for the Paris Olympics.
While the topic remains somewhat touchy to discuss publicly among hockey players and executives — many of whom go on to work with individuals from those countries in the NHL or elsewhere — the national federations they play for have spoken out loudly with their actions at the world championships .
Kazakhstan is the only one of the 16 participating countries to import players from the Russian KHL.
Since the start of the Ukrainian invasion in 2022, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Latvia and France have explicitly banned personnel remaining in the KHL from participating in national team games. , those employed are not allowed to participate in national team competitions.
The Swedish Hockey Federation was much more direct when it issued indefinite national team bans for KHL players in August 2022, president Anders Larsson said in a statement, sending a message to the hockey community An important message because “this concerns our team.”
The last time Russia competed at the 2021 World Championships, they lost to Canada in the quarterfinals at a tournament in Latvia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, the country has won 27 gold medals at the men’s hockey world championships, second only to Canada’s 28 and is traditionally one of the most attractive nations. The tournament is so important to the Russians that they almost always produce a star-studded lineup, with top players willing to jump on a transatlantic flight immediately after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, even if it means Only get one or two games around the world.
However, international competition is a privilege, not a right, and it’s hard to see anyone welcoming the Russian team back until the war in Ukraine is over.
“I think the whole situation has to calm down,” Oksanen said. “They need to stop everything they are doing. After that, we can rethink the situation and the entire hockey community can rethink everything. And then hopefully they can come back.
Jalonen added: “The war has to stop and then maybe it will take some time before they get involved again.”
Eight years after the end of World War II, Germany was allowed to return to international hockey competition at the 1953 World Championships, competing as West Germany.
How to deal with Russia is now a top concern for Finland, a country that endured the Winter War in 1939 when the Soviet Union invaded its territory. These countries have a land border that stretches 1,289 kilometers from north to south.
“They are our neighbors,” Jalonen said. “We are over 1,000 kilometers away from them. Of course, we have to be prepared because anything can happen. I don’t think we are afraid, but we are ready for everything.
(Top photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
