IIHF President Hopes Russia and Belarus Will Come Back As Soon As Possible

Before Day 2 of the Men’s Olympic Winter Games. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh, and IIHF President Luc Tardif met with the media. They were asked about various topics, but one thing was on everyone’s mind: When would Russia be allowed to participate in International Ice Hockey tournaments again?

“We want as soon as possible Belarus and the Russians to return. Because first, it will mean that the world will be a little better,” Tardif told the media present. “But we are following the recommendation of the IOC. And in team sports, they are currently not allowed to participate in the Olympics.”

Hockey World Cup May See Expansion In Coming Years

As it stands, Russia and Belarus have been banned by the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation since they invaded Ukraine shortly after the 2022 Beijing Games.

Ahead of the start of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games, the IIHF Council extended the ban on Russia and Belarus until the 2026-27 hockey season, citing security concerns. In addition, the IIHF Council indicated that it will review its position at its next meeting in May, ahead of the next IIHF Annual Conference in Zurich.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation did not like this decision and will appeal the decision of the IIHF Council. The International Olympic Committee said those countries could return to lower levels at the start of the 2027-28 season. It’s a touchy subject not only for the IIHF, which wants them to return to its events, but also for the NHL, considering the World Cup of Hockey in 2028.

But the NHL will follow the recommendations of the International Community, not just the IIHF and IOC, regarding Russia’s absence from these tournaments.

“We will follow what the international community is doing in terms of athletics,” said Bettman to those present. “I don’t see the need for us to measure it separately. And obviously, in terms of our game and our players, wherever they come from, if we can avoid the problems of the country – not only this one but a lot of others that are going on – I think that’s better for the game, better for our players and better for our fans.”

The World Cup of Hockey Needs to Be Better

Everyone agrees that it is unfair that one of the best hockey countries is not there. They have long dominated the international stage. However, their best result by NHLers going to the Olympics was a silver medal in 1998, when the game was still played on International Ice. After that, the results were bronze in 2002, 4th in 2006, 6th in 2010, and 5th in 2014.

Even though they haven’t won with the NHLers, a Russian team at the Olympics or any IIHF event makes things very interesting. Instead of five hockey countries that can win, adding Russia makes it six. The group stage and medal rounds are getting tougher. The Russians remain steadfast.

Some of the best players in the NHL are from Russia, including Kirill Kaprizov, Nikita Kucherov, Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin, Artemi Panarin, Evgeni Malkin, Mikhail Sergachev, Alex Ovechkin, Vladislav Gavrikov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and many others.

The Russian Olympic Committee last competed at the 2022 Olympic Games, winning a silver medal. They took home the gold medal in 2018 when they beat Germany 4-3 in a very entertaining match. But those include all KHL players, as the NHL did not send its players to the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

NHL and NHLPA Announce Olympics and World Cup of Hockey

The idea is for Russia to be one of eight teams when the puck drops at the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. However, there are no offers yet. We know the NHL wanted to add Russia to the Four Nations Faceoff last year and bring in Czechia, but a few countries didn’t want it there, so it was just Sweden, Finland, USA, and Canada.

It is still a long way for Russia to get back to the big stage. I hope that in 2030, when the Winter Games are in France, the Russians will field a team. But the goal is near. However, the world must improve before that can happen.

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