Russia and Belarus out for next two world championships.

[MXD]

The right people are mad, so it's probably the right decision, but...
Why 2 years?

 

[Cas]

When double standards exist, the IIHF becomes nothing more than a political entity pushing certain political agendas over others. The main focus ceases to be about hockey all.

An international organization composed of representatives of nation-states is a political entity? I'm shocked!

 

[Czechboy]

The right people are mad, so it's probably the right decision, but...
Why 2 years?

I was surprised too. I was positive they weren't going the worlds in Sweden. I thought Olympic decision was next. Then the next World's. They banned them for the first and third event and left the middle one open to more meetings. Thought that was strange.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Politics, folks.

If you don't think you can stay out of political undertones, then stay out of the thread (which is now significantly shorter than it was five minutes ago).

 

[waitin425]

No matter which way you spin it, any comment in this thread is political. If you celebrate this decision or deride it....it is political.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

No matter which way you spin it, any comment in this thread is political. If you celebrate this decision or deride it....it is political.

Well, if you feel that way, you know where the door is.

Do I think this thread will last long? Absolutely no. But it deserves a chance.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

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.

This is such a lie. Everyone has noticed the weaker quality. If you say you haven’t, you are flat out lying to yourself.

Do Czechs probably enjoy it more? Yeah, but even they will acknowledge it weakens the field without Russia.

 

[kaiser matias]

The right people are mad, so it's probably the right decision, but...
Why 2 years?

I imagine to help planning ahead. Sure they could do ot with one year notice, but this gives more room to get things sorted out.

 

[sbhnur]

Pretty much expected.
The IIHF has tranformed itself into a political tool for its more influential members.

Can you give some arguments for your allegation?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I understand why certain people feel it’s deserved, but if you are then going to refuse to acknowledge double standards with some of the other teams that haven’t been banned in the past, you aren’t being fair.

I find the IIHF wholly corrupt. I hope the IOC that isn’t nearly as controlled by certain federations will be more sensible.

World Championships isn’t that big of a deal because realistically it’s not as important as the Olympics and probably even the yearly junior events. I think the bigger deal is we won’t have Russia at the important junior tournaments for 2025-26. A total buzz kill and the quality will be watered down again.

 

[MeHateHe]

An international organization composed of representatives of nation-states is a political entity?

I hate** to be a pedant, but the IIHF is made up national hockey federations which, while they may be funded in whole or in part by the government of the nations they represent, they are not actually representing those governments.

**I love being a pedant. Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life! In my case, because I'm a pedant, everyone hates me and will never hire me.

By the way, the world championship is fine without those guys. The Olympics will be fine without those guys. I mean, I loved watching Canada slap 'em around on their home ice in 2014, after pretty much dismantling them in 2010, but if they're not there, oh well.

 

[Wooren]

The correct decision has been made and reading upset reactions of NA-based fans across all media has been a lot of fun, keep 'em coming.