IIHF Council meets Monday to deliberate Russia’s international participation

Frank Seravalli
Frank Seravalli(frank_seravalli)
IIHF Council meets Monday to deliberate Russia’s international participation

The International Ice Hockey Federation has scheduled a Council meeting for Monday to deliberate Russia’s ability to both host and participate in international events, following the country’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last week.

Russia is scheduled to host both the 2023 World Junior Championship, in 10 shorts months in Novosibirsk and Omsk, as well as the 2023 Men’s World Championship in St. Petersburg next May.

There is a larger and more pressing decision to be made: Russia is set to skate in the upcoming World Championship in May in Finland. Russia’s Under-20 team is also slated to play in the rescheduled World Junior Championship in Alberta in August.

Will they be allowed?

The Swiss and Latvian hockey federations sent statements on Sunday calling for the complete expulsion of the Russian Federation from the IIHF, which is a much larger discussion than just excluding them from tournament play for 2022 for starters.

The IIHF’s Council could vote as soon as Monday to take definitive action and a multitude of outcomes are on the table.

The Belarusian hockey federation is also under fire for their country’s steadfast support of Russia through dictator Alexander Lukashenko. The IIHF was roundly criticized for being slow to act in moving the 2021 World Championship out of Belarus, only ultimately doing so by citing safety and security concerns.

That decision was made by former IIHF president Rene Fasel, who stepped down in Sept. 2021 after 27 years at the helm of the sport’s governing body.

While president, Fasel developed a positively chummy relationship with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. Fasel was undoubtedly a member of Putin’s inner-circle, as evidenced by when he left the 2018 World Championship in Denmark to attend Putin’s inauguration after another “won” election. He was seated in the second row of dignitaries at the Kremlin.

Fasel was awarded the Russian “Order of Friendship” by then-president Dmitry Medvedev in 2011. He has reportedly taken a position in the government-orchestrated KHL since leaving the IIHF.

Two teams, Jokerit (Finland) and Dinamo Riga (Latvia) completely cut ties with the KHL in recent days.

Member federations hope Russia will be dealt with more swiftly under new president Luc Tardif, born in Canada but represents the French federation, who is barely five months on the job.

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