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Russia and Belarus out for next two world championships.

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Czechboy said:


Facts.

Won't be at world's in 2025
Won't be at world's in 2026
Olympic Games in 2026 still undecided
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Also facts; Gord Miller made a reference on Bluesky the other day that the IOC will have the final say about the Olympics, which I found weird because I thought the IOC essentially followed the lead of the sports federations about eligibility. It's the IIHF who are running the qualifying tournaments. I wonder if it's possible that the IOC would say yes to those guys being included (some NOC designation that avoids their flag or anthem) in the Olympics writ large, but the IIHF could still say nope.
 
Very very good and right decision. Also its just formality it will be soon announced that Russia will be out of Olympic hockey also. Olympic commitee wont go againts IIHF's will in this and Russia isnt getting team's in any team sport in Olympics. Not even under neutral flag in team competitions of invidual sports. Hopefully RUssia isnt getting back after war is done for years it would be rightful to keep them out atleast couple years after. for example if war ends 2026 spring they could get in 2029-2030 typic. Not before some time has passed and they have behaved for a bit. Personally i would think 5-10 years would be fair but couple years would be ok.
 
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Tricky one, can't see the IOC differing, given the Russians reputation at the olympics. Sucks for the average non political Russian, but fair.
 
Fantomas said:
No one in Russia is losing sleep over this. Enjoy your boring ass championship.
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Czechboy said:
I won't lie.. loved the last ones in Praha a lot.
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Theres been very good WCH and WJC tournaments in recent years uprise of Czechs have replaced Russia so havent really noticed level of competiteveness getting weaker. I think Olympics will be amazing hockey and Russias absence wont matter much at all.
 
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Fantomas said:
No disrespect intended, but you're probably the only person that remembers it
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Most attended Worlds in history.. maybe a few more people remember it than just me?
 
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Fantomas said:
No one in Russia is losing sleep over this. Enjoy your boring ass championship.
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Sure bro! Enjoy your Championships vs North Korea, Iran and your other “pals”!

Regarding topic - great! The IOc will follow, and if Paris Olympics are any indications, no Russians that supports the regime and the war (like Ovie) will be allowed, as well as any kind of “Russian athletes Teams”.

RorschachWJK said:
Correct decision. I don't give a shit if we ever see those two teams again.
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Agree!
 
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Bravo IIHF! Bravo, The correct decision had been made. I'm sure the IOC and NHL will exert some pressure on the IIHF to allow "olympic hockey team" from the banned countries. But I guess we'll get that decision in May. For now. good job.
 
Realistically, the earliest they could enter is 2030.

I would suggest stripping them of the right to use their national flag or any other symbols with a generic blank white jersey provided by IIHF/IOC, along with a requirement for each Russian representative to sign a declaration condemning the actions of the Russian state and the genocide they have been carrying out in Ukraine, clearly stating they do not support the current Russian regime, the Russian military or the ongoing military occupation of Ukraine.

Ovechkin has an image of him with Putin side by side on his insta account. Many people in Russia think the IIHF reasoning regarding security is some made up technicality. In reality, if Russia faced Latvia, Ovechkin would likely get crippled with a likely mass brawl both on the ice and in the stands.

I don't think people in North America realize this since they are so used to an extremely sanitized, corporate-like sports culture.
 
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Pretty much expected.
The IIHF has tranformed itself into a political tool for its more influential members.
 
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Correct decision. No amount of coping and seething from Russia will change this.

Hockey is fun. WJC, WCH and the Olympics are all fun tourneys to follow.
 
It’s a bummer because you have to include an asterisk on best on best. Just no other way to get around it if you make Kucherov, Panarin, Ovechkin automatically ineligible. Seems a bit silly when you see certain countries partake in the World Cup for instance. Ultimately just a Eurocentric view of the world that views invasion of a European sovereign nation as different than anything else that happens in the world. The citations of safety seem far-fetched and most other responses either openly admit to not caring about distinctions or just express a contempt and hatred for civilians regardless of their involvement in any military actions.

With Trump’s willingness to pursue an aggressive America first agenda will be interesting if EU members pushed for USA’s exclusion from international sport if he were to pursue an aggressive tariff or militaristic policy, or even do something unforeseen like withdraw from NATO. Very likely the answer is no I suspect.
 
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How many tournaments was the US banned from for all their invasions and wars that they, like Putin, lied their way into?

Or with America's talks of annexing sovereign countries and funding of genocides. I guess it's like how the US works with the ICC: rules for eastern euro's and not for me.

The tournaments are genuinely a downgrade without one of the top countries. Do the "Athletes from" if having it be formally team Russia is too much, but the level of competition is just not the same or as interesting.
 
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These tournaments are nothing without Russia in them. They need to separate the athletes from politics, it's just ridiculous.
 
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