The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has ruled that Russia will remain ineligible for tournaments in the 2025-26 season and will, therefore, not participate in the 2025 World Championship. However, hockey legend Dominik Hasek is now slamming the IIHF—not for their decision, but for the reasons behind it.
Russia has been a powerhouse in hockey for years, but since the invasion of Ukraine, they have not been allowed to compete in the World Championship, organized by the IIHF. They are also banned from the Olympics. However, with more than 50 Russian players in the NHL, there was hope that they might soon return to hockey’s biggest international stage.
But earlier this week, the IIHF ruled that Russia will remain ineligible for tournaments in the 2025-26 season, meaning they will miss the World Championship for a fourth straight year.
Russia is also banned from the World Junior Championship, and since 2022, NHL teams have had limited opportunities to scout Russian players live due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Dominik Hasek’s anger
Dominik Hasek, one of the best goalies in NHL history, has publicly criticized the NHL for celebrating Russian milestones since the invasion of Ukraine. Now, he is slamming the IIHF—not for banning Russia, but for how they justified the decision.
“I am glad that international hockey will remain without Russians and Belarusians next season because it will prevent the Russian war from being advertised in international competitions and will save many lives,” he wrote on X.
“However, the official reason for this decision (we cannot guarantee safety) is a complete lie (which the officials will then tell you in private). They say this so that Russia cannot sue them. I will never approve of such behavior toward the world hockey public. People are not stupid, and a false explanation fundamentally reduces the effect of the decision.”
Hasek has called on the IIHF to “stop lying to the people.”
“There is only one reason why Russians are not allowed to compete. If Russian hockey players were allowed to participate, the competition would become a huge advertisement for the Russian war, and many people would die because of it. And that is something we cannot allow!”
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