Pretty much the same as Sweden and I think we can agree that Sweden's absence would be notable.OK. Russia has 1 title the last 20 years in the WJH and 1 title the last 10 years in the mens worlds.
Even if they are like in the top 4 to 6 range it does not mean it hurts hockey in any meaningful way it they are not there. Chances for other teams to shine and create more interest in hockey outweighs Russias absence.
And you cant pull the hockey canada card on me since I am one of the people most vocal about suspending team Canada from the world juniors for at least a year and also ban them from hosting any WJH events in Canada for a couple of years.
Well said , its not the incredible talent loss some here make it seemNobody misses Russia, they have not won anything of lately expect the watered down olympics where they almost lost to Germany which would have been truly embarrassing. The sporting loss of Russia is minimal.
There is no need to invite this nation who is notoriously known for doping, cheating, corruption and now for something we cant discuss but everyone knows what is is. The hockey federation of Russia have always been the flagship PR machine for the motherland, they dont deserve to use it currently!
Let the Russian players enjoy the KHL, they can do whatever want there!
And also like I said before, there is no chance Finland, Sweden and Czechia would even play against them, and I much rather see these nations compete than Russia alone. I would never visit an arena and pay for tickets if the opposing team were Russia!
All in all slam dunk decision by the IIHF!
That's because you don't follow the Russian prospects much, just go to eliteprospects and browse through the 2005 born prospects, you can easily see that this is quite a talented crop.Well said , its not the incredible talent loss some here make it seem
Very talented crop but some are acting like it completely nullifies the tournament results if they aren't there. I'm also not a fan of the double standards towards USA and Israel but that's another storyThat's because you don't follow the Russian prospects much, just go to eliteprospects and browse through the 2005 born prospects, you can easily see that this is quite a talented crop.
Besides their boycott in 1976 they've been the most reliable participant of all. I don't know if any other national team embodies international hockey tradition as much as Sweden.Pretty much the same as Sweden and I think we can agree that Sweden's absence would be notable.
Sarcasm Pretty much the same as Sweden and I think we can agree that Sweden's absence would be notable.
That's not what I've been saying, just what I meant is that some people here pretend that Russia suddenly stopped producing talent, yet actually these birth years like 2003 and 2005 are, as I mentioned on the first page, the best in quite some years.Very talented crop but some are acting like it completely nullifies the tournament results if they aren't there. I'm also not a fan of the double standards towards USA and Israel but that's another story
The conversation was about Russia's modest gold medal count and from that the poster made a conclusion that Russia is mediocre anyway, yet that count is totally in the same tier as Sweden's and I don't think anyone thinks Sweden is meh.Besides their boycott in 1976 they've been the most reliable participant of all. I don't know if any other national team embodies international hockey tradition as much as Sweden.
Not enough. I recommend him to move to Russia for all season and watch all top prospects live on their games at KHL/MHL arenas. Otherwise he has no right to comment on the topic.That's because you don't follow the Russian prospects much, just go to eliteprospects and browse through the 2005 born prospects, you can easily see that this is quite a talented crop.
IIHF has nothing to do with Hockey Canada's actions or inactions.I’m not calling you out. I brought up Hockey Canada’s discretions (and IIHF’s favoritism of China) because it highlights the IIHF’s double standards.
It all proves my point that Russia’s suspension is enacted for the political benefits of certain IIHF members.
The IIHF is playing politics, not Russia. It has nothing to do with reputation, ethics, whatever. And it hurts the level of play in hockey.