The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), led by Franz Reindl, will hold a meeting on Monday and Tuesday to explore available options following the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision on Friday. The Lausanne-based court ruled that the IIHF must allow Russian national teams to participate in the World Ice Hockey Championships. These teams have been banned from participating in these competitions since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Responsible Actions Following CAS Decision
Reindl, who was elected as IIHF President last month, said: "Our duty now is to implement this ruling responsibly." He added: "Several competitions are only a few weeks away, and changes in participation affect many; players, teams, organizing committees, and host cities. We will work closely with all of them to find practical solutions."
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Reactions to CAS Decision in Canada and Germany
The first tournament affected by this decision will be the World Junior Championships, which will take place in Canada starting December 26. Hockey Canada announced that it is in contact with the IIHF and has informed the government of Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, about this decision. Canada's Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, stated that she does not "feel comfortable" allowing a Russian team to participate in this tournament.
Adam van Koeverden, Canada's Minister of Sport, also appears to have rejected the entry of Russian athletes into the competitions, stating: "Canada will maintain restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in events hosted in Canada that are funded by the Government of Canada and will explore additional options to ensure accountability from the Russian government."
Germany is also considering its options as it prepares to host the Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf, and Mannheim next May. A spokesperson for the German government announced on Sunday that "the German government has a critical view of the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision" and will soon discuss the implications of this ruling with the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB).
DEB's executive director, Franz Lutz, will travel to Berlin to discuss this matter. He stated in an interview that the possibility of reinstating the hosting rights for these championships is on the table.
Several other national ice hockey federations have also expressed dissatisfaction with the CAS decision, including those of Ukraine, Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic.
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