Leading ice hockey nations, sponsors oppose Russia's return

The Court of Arbitration says Russian teams can return to international ice hockey, but against whom? And where?Image: Maksim Konstantinov/Imago ImagesAdvertisementThe International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said in a statement on Wednesday that the impact of last week's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision requiring it to reinstate Russia to international play had been "significantly underestimated." 

It added that it "maintains" its disagreement with the decision and that it remained "in dialogue with Member National Associations, organizing committees, host authorities and other key stakeholders to determine the best way forward."

Shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the IIHF barred its teams from competing in international ice hockey tournaments, citing security concerns. In last Friday's ruling, the CAS said that the IIHF's concerns were "not supported by sufficient evidence."

Wednesday's statement comes after two days of talks by the IIHF Council aimed at charting a way forward following Friday's CAS decision, which appears to have caught most of the international ice hockey community off guard.

Two of the organizing committees the statement refers to are those of Canada, which is due to host the IIHF World Junior Championship starting next month, and Germany, which is to host the IIHF Men's World Championship next May. Both countries are strong supporters of Ukraine in its war against Russia, and both have expressed serious reservations about their upcoming tournaments in light of the CAS ruling.

On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ruled out allowing Russians to compete in the World Juniors in Alberta.

"While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal, unjustified ​war in Ukraine, as long as that's going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada," he told reporters at a press conference in Antigua, where he was attending a Commonwealth meeting.

"So, ​if you're asking specifically about the World Juniors, the Russians will not be there," he said.

Last weekend, Frank Lutz, chairman of the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) conceded in a television interview that following the CAS decision, the DEB would "also have to consider the option of handing back (hosting rights to) this championship."

Lutz was to discuss the matter with government officials in Berlin this week. A government spokesman said on the weekend that Berlin "takes a very critical view" of the ruling.

Meanwhile, the ice hockey association of Finland, the defending men's world champions, have been spearheading an effort to boycott upcoming IIHF tournaments should the Russians be allowed to compete.

"We are currently working to bring as many countries as possible into a united front to tell the IIHF that none of us will play against Russia under these circumstances," Finnish Ice Hockey Association boss Heikki Hietanen said in a statement released on the organization's website on Monday.

"Our stance is that we will not play against Russia as long as the war of aggression against Ukraine continues," added Hietanen, who is also a member of the IIHF Council.

Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Czechia have since made similar statements.  

"The Three Crowns will not play Russia in coming world championship tournaments," Swedish Ice Hockey Federation boss Anders Larsson said.

This came shortly after Norway said it would not play Russia at the Men's World Championship and the Danish Ice Hockey Federation issued a similar statement on its website. 

"Denmark will – based on the current situation and the information available to us today – not play against Russia at the World Championship in Germany in May 2027," it read. Denmark did not qualify for the World Juniors.

Czechia Ice Hockey Association President Alois Hadamczik confirmed on Tuesday that they too would refrain from playing Russian teams.

Latvia's federation said it “reaffirms its longstanding and firm position" not to play against Russia or its ally Belarus.

Alexander Helwig, chairman of the Austrian Ice Hockey Association told public broadcaster ORF that “as of now, we would certainly not play against Russia."

USA Hockey has yet to comment on the CAS ruling.

At the same time, sponsors of IIHF tournaments are also getting cold feet. Skoda, which has been the main sponsor of the Men's World Championship for more than three decades told the Associated Press that it would "reassess" its position if Russia takes part.

"We do not support the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision regarding the participation of Russian national teams in IIHF competitions. With Russia's aggression continuing, we believe the Russian national team's return to the world championship is incompatible with the values we have consistently upheld," the Czech carmaker said.

Skoda isn't alone either, Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian had said it would end its backing if Russia took part and Swedish furniture maker AJ Products, whose logo has been seen on the boards and officials' jerseys at World Championships since 1989, said Monday it would ask for its logo not to be shown.

With the IIHF Council having failed to agree on how to proceed during its meetings on Monday and Tuesday, President Franz Reindl told Germany's SID news agency on Wednesday, that it would reconvene for further talks on Thursday.