Weegar loves watching Russia play hockey, but says Europe may see it differently
- The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled last week that the International Ice Hockey Federation must reinstate Russian teams, effective immediately for the World Junior Championship beginning December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta.
- Russia and its ally Belarus had been barred from competition since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Several European hockey federations, including Sweden, Finland, Czechia, and Latvia, have now said their national teams will not play Russia in international competition.
- Although the International Ice Hockey Federation criticized the ruling, it intends to comply. Most objecting federations plan to participate in tournaments but will refuse to take the ice against Russian opponents.
- NHL players offered mixed reactions to the decision. Utah Mammoth defenceman MacKenzie Weegar said he has "always loved seeing Russia in the Olympics and in those best-on-bests," while Montreal Canadiens forward Oliver Kapanen declined to comment.
- Some decisions are expected to be made at an International Ice Hockey Federation meeting scheduled for November 23. The World Junior Championship remains set for late December in Edmonton and Red Deer.
80 Articles
80 Articles
The International Hockey Federation opposed Russia's return to the tournament, while a number of teams refused to play against the aggressor.
AFTER CAS ordered the IIHF to reinstate Russia to the competition, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia and the Czech Republic announced that they would not play against it at the 2027 World Cup in Germany, and Canada is not even allowing the Russians to the junior championship.
Hockey nations refuse to play Russia as Germany mulls exit as host
Finland, Norway, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Denmark and Sweden have said they will not face Russia at the 2027 championship, after a court ruling overturned a four-year ban on Russian national teams. Germany’s federation said the ruling “fundamentally changes the situation” for it as host nation.
Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Latvia and Denmark have decided not to play Russia. Now the international federation has issued a statement about the chaos that has arisen in the ice hockey world. "The global consequences of the CAS court's decision and the challenges it poses for all parties concerned have been greatly underestimated," writes the IIHF.
Russian Minister Fires Back as Multiple Nations Refuse to Compete at World Cup 2027
Russia’s return to international ice hockey was meant to follow a ruling in its favor. Instead, it has triggered a growing standoff, with several countries now refusing to face its teams. Russian Sports Minister and Russian Olympic Committee chairman Mikhail Degtyarev has responded by warning that any nation that boycotts a game against Russia at […]
Six European hockey powers have refused to play against Russia after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian national teams to compete in the 2026/27 season. Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Latvia and the Czech Republic joined the boycott. The CAS ruling on October 30 overturned five resolutions of the IIHF council and ordered the federation to ensure the part…
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